After the holiday season, Kerry King, 39, discovered bruises on her young daughter’s legs during a bath. The four-year-old revealed that Kerry’s boyfriend had been mistreating her. Kerry, aware of her partner John Purdy’s violent tendencies from her own experiences, confronted him about the bruises, but he dismissed them as a simple fall.
Subsequently, Purdy viciously attacked Lilah, prompting Kerry, also a victim of Purdy’s abuse, to be implicated by the police for not adequately safeguarding her child. In a harrowing incident in January 2015, Kerry found Purdy strangling her daughter in their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite trying to intervene, Purdy continued his assault, forcing Kerry to comply in a desperate bid to end the ordeal.
Throughout the night, Kerry endured threats and physical abuse from Purdy, who severely beat Lilah. Despite her attempts to seek help, she was thwarted by Purdy, who controlled her every move. Eventually, with a momentary distraction, Kerry managed to send a covert distress message to her mother, leading to their rescue by the authorities the next day.
Purdy was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Kerry faced a harsher penalty for her perceived failure to protect her daughter. Despite her claims of fear and coercion by Purdy, Kerry was convicted and sentenced to two concurrent 30-year terms.
Lilah, now 11, visits her incarcerated mother monthly, expressing her longing and disbelief over the situation. She tearfully shared her feelings, yearning for real interactions instead of virtual communication.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, seek support from the National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline at 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk for assistance.