My encounter with Jack North
Today I am a 52 year old guy and I made this account for the purpose of telling this story. Except for eight years I have lived here in Rockingham County most of my life. I played on the jet at Purcell Park.
In the mid 80's my father was working as a manager in food service. At some point he met a man named Jack North who was persuing a Masters Degree. My dad began inviting Jack over to our house for visits. The friendship developed to where Jack was a regular in the home.
One day my father and Jack went to safeway that once stood where the county offices are now. My dad went into the store and I was left in the car with Jack North.
That is when it started. I remember it clearly. Jack began to touch me very innapropriately. His hand was in my underwear and fondling my penis and watching for my dads return.
I remember being frozen with fear and confusion. My memory is foggy immedietly after that. But I didnt speak up and continued to be adused by Jack North anytime he was able to be in the same place with me alone.
I also remember the last event, he forced my hand down his erect penis.
But somehow my parents found out and confronted me and found a way to get me to talk. I remember a feeling of "I will get in trouble" , fear, emberasment , confused and my fault type feelings. But I told my parents what was happening.
Jack North disapeared and this was never spoken about again. Recently I asked my father what happened to Jack North. He was very suprised I remembered anything about it. Yes dad that trauma never left my brain.
He explained that JMU did not want the publicity and it was swept under the rug and Jack North was allowed to continue getting his degrees and graduate. Also going public might hurt my fathers employmment. At the time the Harrisonburg police dept told my dad that in a trial I would be questioned and it would be my word against his and did the family want rhat. Though no one ever asked me what I wanted.
I get it, it was a different time and no one talked about this stuff. But today I am a victim of a S.A. and it damaged me. Although no to the point of trying to touch kids. No way! I did have a hyper sexual sex drive and mating with my girl friends and eventually a wife was all I wanted too do. But deffinetly I am not a danger to kids.
I will never understand why my dad didnt put Jack down though. I guess it doesnt matter. Being a dad is hard. I went through Kiester elm. and Thomas Harrison JR high all fked up and was bullied horribly. More then likely those events kept me from standing up for myself.
So why today? I guess I am tired of carrying it. Typing this out has taken some of the weight off.
Once the internet became more and more accessable I would look up his name. But somehow Jack North was somehow able to avoid a presence on the internet mostly. Apparently his went on to be married, have children and I believe a bed and breakfast near Charlottsville. An obituary can be found as well as one or two facebook posts about him. It is really amazing a serial diddler was able to not have a sex offender status.
I wonder if there are other victims of his in the area. I cant be the only one. I am sure he just made friends with my dad to get to me. Seaching JMU's 70's and 80's era "The Breeze" you can find his name.
Who is to blame for Jack North being allowed to go on and lead a rich successful life while I am here all screwed up for the last 45 years? JMU for sweeping it under the rug? HPD for an uninterested approach? My parents? The times we were in? Heck I dont know. Today I am unloading this baggage here because I know the internet will look for other vicitms of this guy and they need to know they are not alone. That it wasnt thier fault. Males can be victims of S.A. too.
I am going to sign into my other account now and leave this behind. Thanks for reading and hopefully understanding.