SPOKANE, Wash. — Kevin Coe, known as the South Hill Rapist, was released Thursday after 45 years in custody.
Several victims spoke in court before his release. They shared how his crimes affected their lives decades later.
“I started praying to God and asked him to please the worst that he could do was kill me. Just let me live,” said Shelly Monahan-Cain, one of Coe’s victims.
Court officials confirmed Coe was not listening as victims spoke.
The women were teenagers and in their 20s when Coe attacked them. Now in their 60s, they have lived with trauma for decades.
“I promised God that night that I would spend the rest of my life making sure that other victims, survivors, as I like to call them, are able to get the help that they need to overcome that one horrible incident that happened,” Monahan-Cain said.
Many victims believe Coe should stay in prison for life. One victim said through tears, “How dare you get out of jail, how dare you breathe the air we breathe. That’s not fair. Now, I have to look over my shoulder again.”
Another victim said, “The desensitization of harming women in the country has got to stop. The repeat offenders sitting out on the street has got to stop. That will be my mission.”
One victim expressed anger, saying, “You are a bastard. You need to be hung from the highest tree and castrated with the dullest rusty knife.”
Coe served 25 years in prison. After his sentence, he was declared a sexually violent predator and held on McNeil Island. The state now says his age and poor health mean he is no longer a threat.
In the courtroom, one victim who still feels like a victim was hugged by another who told her, “The minute you got up on that stand you became a survivor.
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