Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Johanna: Facing Forward

By Rachel Dissell and Gus Chan

This nine-part series tells the story of a teenage relationship turning to obsession and abuse, and a strong young woman recovering from a horrific act of violence. Originally published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in September, 2007.

The Joseph Palczynski Story

By Linell Smith, Marego Athans, Ann LoLordo, Patricia Meisol, Doug Kapustin, and Joannah Hill

A two-part series from The Baltimore Sun on the lives of six women serially victimized by one man's extremes of physical and psychological abuse.

So, This is What it's Like to Die

By Jillian Bogater

On her favorite country road, a white pickup truck stopped. The driver asked for directions and drove off. A minute later she heard the pickup behind her. The driver rammed her back tire.

She landed in a gravel ditch on the side of a grassy hill, her ankle broken. He jumped from the driver’s side and grabbed her arm and yanked her up. He tried to put plastic handcuffs on her.

“Get in the truck, bitch!” he yelled.