I am a witness and I feel intimidated
July 14, 2022 2:39 PM   Subscribe

I witnessed a terrible crime a long time ago. It gave me PTSD. Last year it become public knowledge that I witnessed this crime. (I am also a victim of the same crime, by the same perpetrators.) I am being intimidated. What can I do?

The person who committed the crime, and other people close to them, have been attempting to silence and scare me:
-They threatened me over text and email
-They called the police on me multiple times in an attempt to trigger my PTSD
-They interfered with my medical care
-They spread false rumors about me to my employer, my family, my healthcare providers, my friends, and my neighbors, including false harassment claims at work. This has caused tremendous damage to my health, wealth, and reputation.

There is an ongoing investigation in State A. I live in State B. The other victim lives in State C. The perpetrators live in State D.

What should I do?
posted by tiburon to Law & Government (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Save all the evidence you can, and report all this to whoever is investigating in State A. This conduct is probably illegal.
posted by praemunire at 2:49 PM on July 14, 2022 [8 favorites]


Have you considered consulting with a lawyer about getting a restraining order? That might slow things down or give you better grounds for asking authorities to make them stop. (I can also imagine scenarios where that might be a bad idea)

In terms of your own mental health as you go through this, Are you getting treatment for your PTSD? Do you have access to free therapy via Victim and Witness services in your area?
posted by metahawk at 3:01 PM on July 14, 2022 [6 favorites]


Response by poster: Thank you metahawk.

I tried to get a restraining order but was denied.

Yes I am getting treatment (all symptoms have actually abated). I was not aware of Victim and Witness Services. I will check that out. Thank you.
posted by tiburon at 3:06 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]


I think this counts as witness intimidation and whoever is prosecuting in State A will probably be very interested in whatever evidence you have. Victim Services in State A may also be helpful.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 4:11 PM on July 14, 2022 [15 favorites]


How did they access knowledge about your healthcare providers? I would lock down your social media and all online presence and change your primary email and phone numbers. And all of the things the other people here said to do, too.
posted by erattacorrige at 1:37 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]


The district attorney conducting the investigation in State A should have a Witness Advocate. Contact them. Here is web page for witness and victim resources in Massachusetts. Maybe you can use that as a guide for finding similar services in State A?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:22 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]


Since this is happening inter-state, the witness intimidation crime I mean, you should be able to involve the FBI if necessary
posted by TimHare at 8:33 PM on July 16, 2022


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