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by Stephanie Boatwright (Author)
He promised to love her. Then he made sure she could never leave.
You know the signs. The charm that felt too perfect. The compliments that slowly became commands. The door that locked from the inside, not to keep the world out, but to keep her in. In the early 1980s, domestic violence was a secret you buried deep, a shame you carried alone. There were no hotlines on the refrigerator, no shelters down the road, no laws that took your word over his. You stayed because leaving felt more dangerous than staying. You stayed because he told you what would happen if you didn't.
Released to Kill is the devastating true story of one woman whose life was stolen piece by piece by the man who vowed to protect her. What began as innocent flirting with a handsome, charming stranger became a nightmare of escalating violence, isolation, and terror. Trapped in a home where bourbon signaled brutality and silence meant survival, she clung to a hidden bag, a secret plan, and a mother's promise. Based on the life of the author's aunt, this account honors a woman of extraordinary resilience while exposing the deadly reality that domestic abuse so often becomes.
Inside these pages, you will find:
- A gripping, intimate portrait of how abusers isolate and control their victims
- The heartbreaking truth about a justice system that repeatedly failed one woman
- A powerful call to action for anyone trapped in the cycle of domestic violence
Your voice deserves to be heard. This story will make sure it is.
