Woman kidnapped from Woodfield Mall, sexually assaulted in 1996 speaks out: 'It was broad daylight'

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (WLS) -- A woman who was kidnapped from Woodfield Mall and sexually assaulted back in 1996 shared her story with students at a school Tuesday, just about 1 mile from where it happened.

Angela Rose was 17 when she was attacked.
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Since then, she has founded an organization called PAVE, or Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment.

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On Tuesday night at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Rose urged victims of abuse to break their silence.
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"It was broad daylight when I was walking across the parking lot, and I was kidnapped by a man who had been stalking me," she said. "He finally let me go after several hours, but, when I went down to report what happened to me, initially the detective didn't believe me. And it was so re-traumatizing to go through something so difficult and to not be believed."

Rose said she wants to spread the message that there is no shame in being a survivor.



April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month.