Tears of the Silenced

An Amish True Crime Memoir of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Brutal Betrayal, and Ultimate Survival

By: Misty Griffin

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

A true crime memoir: When Misty was six years old, her family started to live and dress like the Amish. Misty and her sister were kept as slaves on a mountain ranch where they were subjected to almost complete isolation, sexual abuse, and extreme physical violence. Their stepfather kept a loaded rifle by the door at all times to make sure the young girls were too terrified to try to escape. They also knew that no rescue would ever come because only a couple of people even knew they existed and did not know them well enough to care.

Amish sexual abuse: When Misty reached her teens, her parents feared she and her sister would escape and took them to an Amish community where they were adopted and became baptized members. Misty was devastated to once again find herself in a world of fear, animal cruelty, and sexual abuse. Going to the police was severely frowned upon. A few years later, Misty was sexually assaulted by the bishop. As Misty recalls, "Amish sexual abusers are only shunned by the church for six weeks, a punishment that never seems to work. After I was assaulted by the bishop I knew I had to get help and one freezing morning in early March I made a dash for a tiny police station in rural Minnesota. After reporting the bishop I left the Amish and found myself plummeted into the strange modern world with only a second-grade education and no ID or social security card. To all abuse survivors out there, please be encouraged, the cycle of abuse can be broken. Today, I am a nursing student working towards my master's degree and a child abuse awareness activist. This is my story."

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Misty E. Griffin (P)2019 Tantor

Touching and eye opening

I prefer true stories to fiction. As sad as this story was, I was amazed to hear this was going on. I had always idealized the Amish. I know there are bad apples in every group and good apples. The story was well presented. God bless this young woman.

Integrity, Heart with Tenacity

Sadly in any community that lives separate from standard society, sexual abuse runs rampant. I want people to pay attention to the fact there is always a mother and others that know and do nothing. I grew up with a sexual predator and as a kid you are so confused and embarrassed. Mother knew and turned a blind eye. She should have been prosecuted.
I am proud of Missy. She tried at every turn to help not just herself but others too. She is a true definition of a hero and should have zero guilt.

True Grit

The author is living proof that only fear prevents us from becoming our true selves. Sweet yet sad, hopeful yet heartbreaking, pure yet profane. Well done.

Must read.

True life story about an amazing, brave young woman who suffered terrible abuse from foster parents and the Amish people she and her sister were sent to live with in Wisconsin.

You will enter the life of abused children and see how their abuse is disguised by their abusers and then ignored by authorities.

I found myself weeping uncontrollably through many parts of this extremely well written book. It is a must read for anyone with a healthy respect for decency and justice. You may be able to save some child's life someday with this information.

Thank you, and may God bless you, Misty.

Inspirational story of Resilience

I cannot say enough good things about this true crime and autobiographical account. It’s a painful story but it needs to be told because so much more needs to be done for neglected abused children, vulnerable adults and all marginalized and stigmatized people who fall through the cracks.

For those who say it’s too “shocking” to believe that is because most human trafficking, cult and child/domestic abuse victims never have the opportunity to tell their story.