Florida -- Christmases are hard for Patti Robinson from Latana. Eight years ago, she received a 2 a.m. Christmas morning telephone call every parent dreads. A voice on the line informed her that her only child was dead.
When her son Jeffrey was 11, something so terrible happened to him that she believes that's what caused him to take his own life at age 31.
The boy was repeatedly molested by his karate instructor, who Robinson said also molested at least two other boys. But by the time her son and the others were ready to come forward in court, the law wouldn't let them.
"The statute of limitations had run out," Robinson said. "And we couldn't do anything, which I really think contributed to the hopelessness that my son felt."
Florida law gives victims of certain sex offenses, including "non-forcible rape" of children age 12 and older, until they are 21 to press charges. Lawsuits must be filed before the victim reaches age 26.
Up to 70 percent of child sexual-abuse cases aren't reported until after the deadline, West Palm Beach attorney Michael Dolce said.
Read the rest of the story at palmbeachpost.com.
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