(KDVR via CNN Newsource) - A mother's Facebook message about the sexual assault of her daughter has started a worldwide conversation online. The Colorado woman says she's surprised by how many people relate to her experience.
In a video that runs 3 minutes and 26 seconds, Catherine St. Germain doesn't say a word, but her message has the whole world talking.
“I had less than 200 friends on Facebook when I posted that video,” St. Germain says.
Since Friday, Catherine's Facebook video has received nearly 50 million views.
Her post shares the story of how her ex-husband -- who she had just married -- sexually assaulted her 15-year-old daughter.
“He was former cop with three kids of his own… why wouldn't you trust him with your kids? He was a psychopath,” she says.
We spoke with Katherine just after her ex was released from his 90-day jail sentence and as media requests from around the world poured in.
The comments shared in her pain. ”Catherine such a powerful video, I have been through the same thing,” one comment read. But she says it’s messages like this from survivors as far away as Africa that’s stunned her the most.
“There's a woman who lives in Estes Park, Colo. and she said [she] felt completely alone and isolated until she saw the video, and she thought she doesn't live that far from me. I’m really not alone and that just made my whole day,” St. Germain went on to say.
April is sexual assault awareness month and Katherine hopes her video helps more people recognize the signs. The video features the song ‘Yesterday’ by her favorite group, The Beatles, and while ultimately it’s tough today for Katherine to forget her yesterdays, she says it’s important to keep living.
“It’s OK to not give up on love, it’s OK to get remarried to take those chances, but do it with conscientious education,” St. Germain says.
She hopes people actively search sex offender data bases, not just for people around them, but for specific names.
