ninety90

Beginning a new journey with Benjamin, her 9-month-old

baby, Camerica Nkwenti (12) no longer fears the abusive man

she once loved. “My (former) boyfriend almost killed me and my baby,” Nkwenti said. “Now, my baby is safe and if it hadn’t been for Benjamin, I wouldn’t

be the strong woman I am today.” Photo by Matt Hart

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america Nkwenti (12) met the man that would change her

life forever. She was 17; George was 29. Shortly after meet-

ing George and developing a relationship with him, Nkwenti

was forced to leave her home because she refused to follow

her father’s rules. She found an open door to an abandoned

building where she found refuge for several months.

“I started calling George a lot and he said that I could stay

with him. Three months later, he brought home a pregnancy

test. I took it and I was pregnant. I was so mad that I threw

the test in the trash,” Nkwenti said.

“Then he started abusing me.

“He kept abusing me. He hit me

in the face with his fist. He slapped

me. He would bang my head against the wall,” Nkwenti said.

“It gradually got worse, but George would usually apologize

afterwards.”

Nkwenti didn’t want to risk her and her unborn baby’s life.

She left George and went to the Family Violence Center, but

George didn’t go away.

“(George) said that he missed me. I told him that I was at

the video store with my friend, Lewis. He was furious. George

came to the video store smiling, holding a flashlight and a

knife. George told me to get in the car. I gave in. I wanted

to know what he had to say,” Nkwenti said. “He told me he

loved me for the first time.”

After several months with no abuse, Nkwenti’s son, Ben-

jamin, was born. The stress of having a baby led George to

regain his abusive behavior and his cocaine use.

“I came home one day after leaving Benjamin alone with

George. Benjamin had a large bruise on his eye and I knew

that George had hurt him. I didn’t say anything to George.

I was too afraid of what he might do to Benjamin. I left and

called the police from my friend’s phone, but George told

the police that it was only an accident and they left. Before

walking into the house, I told my friend to call the police

again if I didn’t come out soon.

When I shut the door behind me,

George put a bandana around my

neck and dragged me on the floor.

He was yelling and stepping on my face and stomach. There

was blood everywhere. He said he was going to kill me. I just

remember praying that my baby would be okay. Thankfully,

the police showed up.”

George went to jail, where he is currently serving a sen-

tence. Nkwenti is living happily with her baby in an apartment

and has repaired her relationship with her father. She plans to

graduate and attend Ozarks Technical Community College.

“I want to share my story with young girls like me who

have been in abusive relationships,” Nkwenti said. “They

need to be able to be themselves, speak up for themselves

and be strong women.”

saving benjamin

Alexa Kilgore

cYoung mother overcomes abuse, goes back to school

ninetyone91

“He said he was going to kill me. I just remember praying that my baby would be okay.”

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