Shannon Keeler confronted her attacker, Ian Cleary, in a courtroom on Monday, bringing a nearly 12-year journey for justice to a pivotal moment. Keeler to stand up at a university when she first accused Cleary of raping her at a fraternity party in 2013. This traumatic event would follow her for decades. At the hearing, Cleary pleaded guilty to the sexual assault. This confession, though, is the dramatic climax to a case that sparked public debate about sexual violence and accountability across the country.
The impact of that fateful night in 2013 has stayed with Keeler even since her initial reporting of the incident and looked to for answers. In a recent interview with Juju Chang for ABC News, Keeler spoke candidly about the heartbreaking journey to find justice. That conversation ended up being broadcast on ABC’s Good Morning America. Her sense of responsibility motivated her to get a warrant for Cleary’s arrest. By using social media to contact him via Facebook, she was able to connect law enforcement with the information they needed to continue their investigation.
For Keeler, the experience of facing Cleary in court was bittersweet and surreal.
“I was shaking and tearing up a bit, but it felt really good to be able to look him in the eyes and tell him what he did to me.” – Shannon Keeler
This confession from Cleary not only serves as confirmation of Keeler’s long-fought fight, the case sheds light on the intricacies involved in sexual assault cases. As a result, countless victims face insurmountable barriers in their quest for justice. Keeler’s case serves as a reminder about the importance of community networks and access to resources for survivors.
Keeler, a fierce and determined warrior, is healing, and her journey back is nothing short of remarkable. Her journey is emblematic of the institutional pain many survivors experience as they march towards justice for sexual violence. Her first police report led to court actions that forced a discussion on the need for better reforms in dealing with such cases. Through the power of storytelling we have all come to realize how important it is to believe and support survivors.
