Domestic Violence Awareness Month "My Testimony"

By Deanne Lane, 2005




A St. Louis man is spending the next 22 years in prison for attempting to kill his former girlfriend. Courtney Everett told Atara Estes to plan for a big surprise. But never did she expect what would happen next.

Estes was hoping for a ring or a new apartment to share with Everett and their baby daughter. Instead, police said, Everett blindfolded Estes, drove her to a field, shot her and tossed her near-lifeless body into the trunk of his car.

Estes said she tried not to focus on the pool of blood quickly engulfing her and panicking was also not an option.


“Blood is just flowing. I can feel the tingling in my body, numbness, a different sensation to whereas something is really wrong, feeling lifeless,” explained Estes.

She spent the next few minutes trying to disable the car’s rear lights, anything to draw attention to the vehicle and Everett, “Then I heard this voice say just reach a little further, reach down a little further.”

Sure enough, as Everett stopped to buy gas, the trunk popped open. Bleeding severely and partially paralyzed, Estes was still able to get out of the trunk. Everett didn’t notice and kept going. Estes says it’s a miracle oncoming traffic didn’t kill her.

Estes says it was her little girl that helped save her life and that voice she heard while trapped in the trunk. Amazingly, Estes has forgiven her shooter and says she prays for him.


This happened in 2002:


This is still out of hand today. Please sound the alarm on domestic abuse. We are losing our loved ones by the numbers. And families are grieving over that family members due to domestic violence. I survived and only God knows why. I am here today to share with you that no one is exempt from this. I know that if it isn't you personally then you know someone who is going through this. Get them the help that they need if you can. Every situation is different but help families to live and not to perish from this deceptive behavior. It has taken a lot for me to finally make my voice be heard and now I have a charged to keep and a God to Glorify for he has saved me from the abuse and now every week I get counseling to help me to be opened about what has happened and not to blame myself and to beat myself up for not recognizing any signs. Like I said every situation is different. We don't deserve to be abused in any manner. There is more to come with this topic but I want to be wise with what to say when I say it because I know that this will and has already touch many people. I am not trying to get applauds for enduring through but I want to save someone from going through another death or abuse like I have experienced. Be looking out for more from me as the Lord gives me what to say I will tell it and shame the devil to the fullest. There is a reason that he kept me ALIVE.



God bless ya'll,


Atara