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My Journey Towards Healing & Accountability:
Let the Record Show...
This is a timeline with everything that has happened since that night in 1990 with supporting documentation. It is all the work I've done to both heal and hold my abuser accountable. I've outlined key legal dates and my advocacy work as well, so you can track my entire transformation from victim, to survivor, to advocate. As you read this account ask yourself these questions:
*are these the actions you would expect of a woman (and her family) who, statistically, is unlikely to be fabricating these events?
*are these actions you'd expect of a man who is telling the truth?
April 1990
Anne is assaulted on a high school senior trip to Bermuda.
Read about it here!
June 3, 2016
As Brock Turner is in the news, Anne sends this FB message to Ward. It is read but he does not respond.
December 9, 2019
Anne sends this Facebook Message to Ward. It does not appear to have been read, however a few days later, she is blocked on his personal account.
November 28, 2023
Anne makes this Facebook post to refute Ward's message about her mental health. She will write to him directly about this on December 19, 2023 and again on January 26, 2024. Her attorney will respond on March 8, 2024.
March 1994
By random chance, both Anne & Ward are at Dad's Diner on Boylston St, Boston, Ward approaches Anne and says "Sorry about Bermuda". There was zero interaction between Anne and Ward in Bermuda outside of the assault so there is nothing else this statement could be referring to. This is the first communication between them since the night of the abuse, and the last until 2016.
Oct. 27-28, 2023
Ward gives this response to questions asked by a fellow citizen a day or two after Anne goes public.
November 2, 2023
A Melrose resident, attorney, and friend of Ward's sends this letter to the admins of the Moms of Melrose Facebook Group threatening civil legal action in reference to a post about this on their page. In this letter he highlights that her accusation is retaliation for a previous political post a year prior (having to do with the High School Mascot debate). This is false, the timeline clearly shows Anne reached out years before to confront Ward about this assault. Further, outside attorneys confirm that there is no legal basis for this claim and plenty of precedent that it would not hold up in court. However the cost of retaining counsel to defend a frivolous suit is enough to scare the admins into compliance and they ban her from the group. A few days later Ward also sends this message to a citizen, fabricating/libeling Anne about completely false mental health issues and defaming two other Melrosians he accuses of "exploiting" her. Outside of her documented PTSD as related to the assault, there is absolutely zero evidence to his claims of mental health issues and no lawsuits against anyone ever materialize. Anne responds to this libel on December 19, 2023 and again on January 26, 2024, and Anne's attorney responds on March 8th, 2024.
April 2005
Statute of Limitations expires for filing a criminal suit for sexual assault in MA.
April 1993
Statute of Limitations expires for filing a civil suit for sexual assault in MA.
October 26, 2023
After years of silence from Ward, and working through the PTSD of her assault, Anne, with the approval of her legal counsel, decides to share her story publicly.
September 2023
Anne retains legal counsel for advice and to protect herself and her family. To date she has spent over $6k on attorney's fees.
November 14, 2024
Anne raises close to $10k in one night to support Callisto. After a recording of the fundraiser is made public, that amount grows.
April 28, 2025
Anne delivers this speech at the Melrose City Council Meeting in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Her daughter, who is the same age as Anne was when she was assaulted, also spoke as to how this has effected their family.
January, 2025
Anne files a police report with the Bermuda Police Service. Bermuda has no statute of limitations on sexual assault and this step helps her regain power on her healing journey and solidifies the seriousness and weight of this event because if her claim was false, she could be prosecuted for filing a false police report. She has nothing to hide.
October, 2024
Anne begins her volunteer work with Callisto, a group working to help sexual assault survivors.
May, 2025
Anne connects with Attorney Victoria Burke, the architect of the Speak Your Truth Act, and submits testimony to CT lawmakers in support of that state's bill (HB 7134) which will, among other things, protect victims/survivors from frivolous and/or retaliatory defamation lawsuits. The bill passes unanimously and is signed into law on June 10, 2025.
December 19, 2023
Knowing she's been blocked from his personal Facebook account, Anne sends this message to his city council Facebook profile disputing the lies of his Nov. 2 post. He responds with a "thumbs up" emoji.
January 26, 2024
Anne responds directly to Ward in a private message addressing his accusations of mental illness and exploitation and, again, invites him to have a conversation. He reads this response but does not answer.
April 6, 2025
Anne becomes aware that Ward has been made an admin of the Melrose 1990 Facebook page and that she has been banned from the group. Also banned is another classmate who was Anne's roommate on the Bermuda trip and whom Anne confided in an hour after the assault. When Anne reaches out to another admin, that person refuses to allow her back into the group because "we respect each others (sic) decisions as admins, and we don't undo each others (sic) actions/decisions."
June, 2025
Anne testifies in person at the judiciary hearing at the MA State House in support of MA's Speak Your Truth Act (HB4018) and submits written testimony as well. This September, she will again testify in person and submit written testimony in support of a similar bill (HB 1974).
April 7, 2025
Anne attends the Melrose City Council meeting where they put forth a resolution in support of goals & ideals related to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is the first time she has seen Ward in person since her encounter in March, 1994.
March 8, 2024
Anne's attorney sends a cease & desist letter to Ward's attorney regarding his electronic communications at the end of 2023 and asks all communications be preserved.
September 16, 2023
Anne messages a mutual classmate and close friend of Ward's asking to help facilitate a meeting. She points out she is not looking to get Ward in trouble and that the statute of limitations for any legal recourse has past; she just needs this meeting as part of her healing journey. She later stops contact with this person when he tells her that a meeting with Ward won't happen if she communicates with anyone "besmirching" Ward's name; a poor attempt to keep her quiet and exposing where his true loyalties lie.
August 17, 2025
The admin of the UNCENSORED Melrose MA Group bans
Anne due to a "developing legal dispute."
August 20, 2025
Anne is implicated (without evidence) by two members of the UNCENSORED Melrose MA Group of possibly being behind a phishing attack on the admin of that group. They post a document that reveals her address. Anne contacts Melrose PD to report the doxxing and takes steps to get the post removed. A report is filed and further action is TBD.
May 2023
Anne contacts a friendly 1990 alumni acquaintance who remembers Ward. After hearing her story, she becomes an ardent and unwavering supporter; a very rare light in the darkness of locals protecting their own out of comfort instead of finding courage. She will be one of only a few who stand up.
January 8, 2025
On January 8, Anne's husband sends a very civilized and measured email to Ward's city council email address which outlines the effects this assault has had on their family and refutes claims of mental illness. Ward does not respond.
August 25, 2025
Someone impersonating Anne contacts the Connecticut chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and claims to need assistance. Police reports are filed in both MA and CT and an investigation is opened up to pursue charges for online harassment and criminal impersonation.
August 28, 2025
Once again, someone impersonating Anne contacts another behavioral health institution and claims to need assistance. And again, police reports are filed as part of the ongoing investigation into this doxxing. She is more determined than ever to hold the person(s) criminally responsible.
Cast of Characters
Click above to see messages to/from other prominent city council members, past Melrose politicians, "advocacy" groups, and others who choose to "not get involved."
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