A WOMAN who was raped while in college is hoping to get justice after her attacker allegedly confessed in a series of chilling Facebook messages.
Shannon Keeler, now 26, said she was raped during her first year at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania in 2013.
Last year, Keeler discovered a series of Facebook messages from the man she says attacked her eight years ago.
"So I raped you," the person wrote. "If you have a moment give me a call.
"I need to hear your voice. I'll pray for you," the messages continued.
The suspect, who is now 28, allegedly stalked Keeler at a party, followed her home, barged into her dorm room, and attacked her.
Eight years later, she is hoping the social media confession will be enough to bring charges that never came when she first reported the crime.
Keeler told the Associated Press that she followed protocols – both before and after the attack – to avoid sexual assault and report it if it does happen.
She had a friend walk her home from the party that night. After the rape, she went to police the very same day and had a rape kit done.
She pushed for charges, but they never came.
"It has bothered me over the years that I was never able to do anything," Keeler said.
"If you're not going to help me, who are you going to help? Because I do have evidence."
The suspect withdrew from school, which ended the campus Title IX investigation into the alleged attack.
Though he left school, he still denied any wrongdoing, according to the AP.
Keeler recalls then-District Attorney Scott Wagner telling her at the time that it is difficult to bring charges in cases where alcohol is involved.
After Keeler obtained a lawyer and showed authorities in Adams County the Facebook message confession, a case was once again opened to look into the allegations.
Keeler said that she found out last year that her rape kit had been destroyed after her case was closed, a formerly common occurrence that is now illegal in Pennsylvania.
As horrific as Keeler's case is, it is a common one experienced by people at colleges across the country.
In the US, only one in five college sex assault victims reports to police.
Even when they do report, prosecutors are often hesitant to move forward with cases where the victims were drinking or knew the suspect.
Keeler explains that it took years for her to accept what happened to her, and the way it was handled legally at the time.
"My anger was more at the criminal justice system than what actually happened," she said.
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