Attacker's apology revives a victim's nightmare

A letter 20 years late leads one woman to fight for justice

Mia M. Malafronte / AP

Liz Seccuro, a victim of vicious rape in 1984, has gone public with her story, hoping to raise awareness of sexual assault and inspire victims to seek help.

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By Kristen Gelineau

updated 1:39 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - William Beebe had been haunted by that night for years.

He’d tried to send the letter before — and failed. Just like he’d failed to stick with Alcoholics Anonymous. Just like he’d failed at so much in life.

This time, he was staying with the 12-step program. But should he really take that treacherous ninth step?

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It told him to make amends to those he’d hurt — unless doing so would injure them further.

Some had warned him to leave it alone. But he’d prayed on it.

And so, he began to write.

‘In 1984 I harmed you’
“You got a letter,” Mike Seccuro said, tossing an envelope onto his wife Liz’s lap as he climbed behind the wheel of their minivan.

Who lives in Vegas? she wondered briefly of the postmark before her eyes stopped on the sender’s name.

She froze.

It was a name she had not uttered in 20 years.

Her body suddenly felt cold, her brain fuzzy. With shaking hands, she opened the envelope.

“Dear Elizabeth,” the letter began. “In 1984 I harmed you.”

She wept.

A cry for help ignored
She was Liz Schimpf then, a petite 17-year-old blonde from Yonkers, N.Y., just a few weeks into her first year at the University of Virginia.

The frat brother tending bar at Phi Kappa Psi handed her a green concoction.

Exactly what happened next during the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 1984, remains unclear. This is what she remembers:

The drink made her feel strange and panicky.

William Beebe, a student she didn’t know, dragged her to his room. He pulled her onto his lap, kissed her neck, her ear.

Repulsed, she pulled free and bolted from the room.

“HELP ME!” she screamed.

A brother tossed her at Beebe, then left.

Beebe tore off her clothes and threw her on the bed.

She was a virgin. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

His weight was crushing her, his smell a nauseating mix of alcohol and body odor. She fought him, clamped her legs shut. He pried them open.

The pain was blinding. She couldn’t breathe.

She passed out.