Opinion ID: 2388194
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Suicide attempts

Text: The victim testified that she attempted suicide on two separate occasions in an effort to stop the abuse and to get away from Vega. The first suicide attempt occurred in March 2005 while the victim was 14 years old and in the ninth grade. The victim obtained sleeping pills from a drawer in Vega's bedroom and confronted Vega, telling him that she was going to commit suicide because she didn't want to be around him anymore. After taking the pills, the victim testified that she only remembered waking up in the hospital, but she did not tell anyone of the sexual abuse. The victim testified that a few weeks after the first suicide attempt, Vega once again began the sexual abuse by touching her breasts and genitals. The second suicide attempt occurred in November 2006 when the victim again ingested sleeping pills. After being released from the hospital, the victim wrote a letter to her mother explaining that Vega had been molesting and abusing her since she was eight years old. During an argument with her mother, the victim told her about the letter and asked that she read it. After reading the letter, her mother took the victim to stay at her aunt's house for a few weeks while the victim's mother returned home to confront Vega about the accusations. Vega admitted to the victim's mother that he sexually abused the victim.