By Connie Pittman
Before August 10, 1995, the day my life changed forever, I never gave crime much thought, let alone becoming a victim. My husband and I ran Memory Lane Antiques, a demanding, successful restoration business on Atlantic Boulevard in Jacksonville, now in our second year.
My husband was away on a buying trip that sunny day, around 11 or 12 noon, when two suspicious men entered the shop. One wasn’t wearing a shirt or shoes, and the other began asking unusual questions: Is this a business or a residence? Are you alone? After a few minutes of looking at a few things and price tags, they left. I locked the door and went back to work until a customer called, saying she was coming by to pay for a piece I was restoring. I went up front, unlocked the door, and waited for her arrival, then returned to my work. When I heard the door again, I went to greet her, but the two men had returned and had changed clothes. I knew something was wrong. They stayed close to the front door, and I moved back toward the phone. They asked more questions and whether anyone else was there. I told them to leave or I would call the police.
That’s when one man locked the door and the other pulled a gun from under his shirt and ran toward me. I managed to dial 911, but the call didn’t connect, and the attacker ripped the phone from the wall. This is when the worst nightmare unfolded: I was being robbed at gunpoint. I was grabbed by the throat, choked, beaten, and subjected to an attempted rape, all while they screamed, “Give me your money.” I told them I took credit cards and checks there; there was no cash. I tried to make sense of what was happening, to find a way out, to buy myself time until my customer arrived. But she didn’t come, and the beating continued. I had to think of a way to stop them and escape. My husband had given me a gun and shown me how to use it in case anything ever happened, and I had it that day on my workbench. I told the attackers I hid a money bag in the back room so I could get the gun. The attacker with a gun to my head told me to fetch the money. If I tried to pull anything, he would kill me.
I walked backward, saw the gun, and dove for it. I figured I was going to die anyway, so I was going to fight. The fight was on, and one attacker told the other that I had a gun. They pounced as I ran for the back door and pulled me to the floor. I had my gun in hand as they sat on me, trying to wrench it away. I fired one shot, and it screamed past the head of one of them as they held my head to the floor and shot at me. I was stunned that I was still alive and kept fighting.
I managed to break free and throw the gun under some furniture, where it jammed and wouldn’t fire. They pistol-whipped me and began beating me with whatever they found. I prayed to God for help, and they mocked me, saying, “God’s not going to help you; we’re going to kill you.” I believe there was divine intervention. After I prayed, the attacker found a knife and prepared to stab me, but suddenly he stopped, looked toward a door where I saw no one, and the other attacker froze. They let me go and ran for the door.
I crawled outside, where someone finally helped me. I was taken to Shands Critical Care Unit. I survived. The medical team told me I’d endured a brutal beating, a near-fatal assault, and the indescribable stress of fearing for my life. I woke to a new reality: the broken pieces of a life that would forever be altered, and the uninvited turn toward a system I didn’t know how to navigate. What I didn’t know, and would soon learn, was that I was about to be drawn into the Criminal Justice system, and I didn’t know what to do. What now?
By Jeannie Ly, Victim Advocate, Justice Coalition
Connie’s story is not an isolated one; it reflects the lived reality of too many survivors who confront violence and then must navigate the false starts, shadows, and missteps of a justice system that often feels incomprehensible to those who’ve endured trauma. The Justice Coalition’s Victim’s Advocate program exists to meet you where you are, with steady, informed guidance, empathetic listening, and concrete steps to help you through every stage of this journey.
Key moments where a Victim’s Advocate can make a difference include:
- Immediate crisis response and safety planning: Assessing current risk, helping you secure your environment, and connecting you with urgently needed resources.
- Medical care and documentation: Coordinating with hospitals, ensuring you receive appropriate medical evaluation, and preserving evidence through a survivor-centered approach.
- Legal navigation: Explaining options for reporting, charges, protective orders, and the realities of the court process in clear terms.
- Advocacy in the system: Attending meetings with you, ensuring your voice is heard, and helping you understand what to expect at every stage, from police interviews to grand jury to trial, if applicable.
- Emotional and peer support: Linking you with trained advocates, support groups, and trauma-informed counseling.
- Long-term resources: Providing information on financial assistance, housing, safety planning, and community programs designed to reduce risk and promote healing.
If you are a survivor reading this, you are not alone. The journey from crime to healing is personal and non-linear, and there is a dedicated team ready to walk beside you. When you contact the Justice Coalition, you’ll speak with Victim’s Advocates who will listen first, assess your needs, and tailor support to your circumstances. We will help you file reports, access medical and legal services, and connect you with community partners who can provide practical assistance and emotional support.
Connie’s experience also highlights the importance of prevention and community safety. For our readers, here are some practical measures that may help reduce risk and empower business owners:
- Enhance physical security: Stronger door and window reinforcements, surveillance cameras, lighting, and clear visibility to deter criminals.
- Create a safety protocol: A written plan for handling suspicious activity, a quick-access list of emergency contacts, and practiced responses to threats.
- Training and preparedness: Survivors who have basic self-defense and safety-awareness training report greater confidence in managing threats.
- Community watch and partnerships: Neighbors and local businesses sharing information about crime patterns to improve safety.
A final note: The memory of that day never fully fades, but the way Connie and others transform that memory into resilience, through advocacy, support, and community action, demonstrates the essential power of a compassionate response to violence. If you or a loved one has been affected by crime, please reach out to the Justice Coalition at 904-783-6312. We are here to listen, believe, and help you move forward.
Read the complete February 2026 edition of the Victims’ Advocate (PDF)