“I don’t want my child to live in fear that she will ever have to see these people again or feel that they were not brought to justice. I don’t want her to feel that she is unsafe in this world, that they could come back and try to harm her or retaliate.” – Mother of Victim
These are the haunting courtroom words from the mother of a 7-year-old girl who was brutally sexually assaulted by a Tampa couple while her own father took pictures and video of the encounter.
Tampa Couple Convicted Tuesday, May 15, 2018
According to the Tampa Bay Times: During a joint sentencing that took place on Tuesday, May 15, the mother’s request of removing these abusers from her daughter’s life came close to fruition. Richmond Joseph McDonald (40-years-old), and his wife, Shauna Maryann Boselli (25-years-old) pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the 7-year-old girl while her father recorded the abuse. Richmond was given 40 years to life in prison; his wife was given 40 years. The girl’s father (who shall remain nameless to help protect the victim’s identity) was convicted earlier in the year and faces a 75-year stay in a federal prison.
More Than 1300 Images of Child Pornography on Her Abusers Personal Devices
During the investigation into these abuses, the investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security discovered pictures of a zoo trip that the father, his daughter, and the couple took together. They also found over 1300 individual images and instances of child pornography featuring the victim and the couple. In Florida, each instance can be charged as a separate offense.
Not McDonald’s Only Victim
The 7-year-old girl was apparently not McDonald’s only victim. He had previously been charged in Georgia with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old in both 1998 and 2000. The Georgia Court of Appeals, however, overturned the verdict in 2001. In addition to these events, 2 other women have filed reports against McDonald for possession of pornographic materials depicting children. His wife had no previous criminal history and was even the victim of sexual abuse herself. This is potentially why the life sentence was dropped from her punishment.
Girl Now Has Nightmares
As if this case wasn’t abhorrent enough, the young girl now faces horrific nightmares. These nightmares (more like night terrors) cause her to try and stay awake all night. The victim has now become socially reclusive and is showing signs of increasing levels of anxiety and clinical depression. Her softball games, outings with friends, and trips to the zoo have been replaced with therapy sessions and coping strategy meetings. This is absolutely NOT how a 7-year-old girl is supposed to experience childhood.
“It is unforgivable. They are unredeemable and cannot and will not be rehabilitated” – Mother of Victim