Opinion ID: 2361162
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Elizabeth

Text: On one occasion, Merzbacher pulled out his revolver, spun the chamber, pointed it at Elizabeth's face and pulled the trigger. Although the gun did not discharge on that day, Elizabeth recalls another afternoon when Merzbacher also played Russian Roulette and shot a loaded gun above the heads of several students, yelling I'll fucking kill you. (E. 459). Elizabeth also described a separate incident when Merzbacher had a book, a set of fake books and he had a bottle of sherry ..., I had never tasted alcohol before, and he gave me this sherry and then he removed my underwear and raped me while he sat on his desk chair. I was eleven, and he used that pattern repeatedly. Sometimes in that storage room was when he would also pull out his revolver and point it at my head when he raped me. (E. 462). Merzbacher had no qualms about pulling [the gun] out and letting you know he had it, that it was around.... (E. 462). One afternoon, Merzbacher raped Elizabeth in the storage room with the gun to her head. He shouted, I will blow your fucking brains out if you ever tell anyone what I have done to you at any point in time. I will find you, I will come and get you. (E. 463). Merzbacher also warned Elizabeth, I will kill your father, I will kill your family. You're a bad little girl. Who would believe you anyway? [B]ut I will fucking blow your brains out. (E. 463). Several years after the abuse had ended, Elizabeth returned to the Catholic Community Middle School and spoke with the principal about Merzbacher. Elizabeth warned her that Merzbacher had been brutal to several male and female students, and that he had frequently raped her. Most importantly, Elizabeth expressed concern that Merzbacher not be allowed to continue teaching at the school. In response, the principal said, Liz, I think you should forget it and get on with your life, people change. (E. 466).