Speak Out Event Invites Survivors to Share Their Stories and Witness the Rededication of the Amy Dexter Memorial
Editor's Note: CCCNews previously published another version of this story which has been redacted.
Content Warning: This story contains mentions of violence and sexual assault.
By Cole Goodwin
The Skamania County Women’s Council is holding a Speak Out event at Teo Park in Stevenson, Washington on Oct. 2nd from 2-4 p.m. to encourage survivors of sexual assault, gender-based violence, and domestic violence to share their stories in community.
The free event will include speakers, music, an interactive art installation, and a rededication of the Amy Dexter Memorial. The Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Asault will be present to provide support and resource materials.
The memorial honors 15 year-old Amy Dexter, whose free-spirited, friendly and joyful nature have remained in the memory of her family and friends, but whose life was cut tragically short when she fell victim of sexual assault and homicide by 18 year-old Christopher L. Bradley in 1991.
The memorial was redesigned by Amy’s sister, Tina VanPelt, and the Skamania County Women's Council earlier this month.
In remembrance of Amy Dexter. Photo Credit: Alyson Castonguay
Honoring Amy Dexter’s Memory
Amy’s sister Tina VanPelt said that her sister’s murder devastated not only her family but people from all walks of life in their community.
“She was a free spirit; she cared about people and was kind to everybody,” said VanPelt. “She was friends with everybody, people from all walks of life; it didn’t matter who you were.”
Alyson Castonguay, a member of the Skamania County Women’s Council, was one of the many people who were impacted by Amy’s life and death.
“I grew up in Stevenson, and I knew Amy. I was a freshman and she was a sophomore. She was in cheer, and I was in band,” said Castonguay. “I didn’t know her well, but she was the kind of person that was friends with everyone.”
Castonguay said she plans to share her story and how Amy impacted her both in life and in death at the Speak Out event and encouraged other survivors to come and share their stories.
“I want people to come and tell their stories because she (Amy) can’t,” said Castonguay.
Alyson Castonguay works as an audioengineer in the Columbia River Gorge. Photo Credit: Unknown
Castonguay said that was also part of the reason she advocated to hold the Speak Out at Amy’s memorial.
However, when the Women’s Council went to visit the memorial, they discovered that despite being well loved and well remembered, it was completely hidden in weeds.
“The whole entire area was overgrown and her little memorial stone was right in the center of it,” said Annie McHale, co-organizer of the Speak Out event and the Women’s Council.
“I didn’t know about Amy, and that’s why it’s important to tell her story,” said Arriana Wells, a senior at Stevenson High School who is also a member of the Women’s Council. “It was angering to see that even though her death affected many people her memorial had become completely overgrown.”
This photo shows the area where the Women’s Council weeded to make the memorial visible again. Photo Credit: Annie McHale
Wanting to honor Amy, the Women's Council had begun weeding around the memorial until it was visible again.
“Once we were done, I realized that we may have just defaced public property, and I called the Port the very next day to tell them what we had done and why,” said McHale. “I told them that we were interested in redesigning the area to honor Amy and that’s when I found out Amy’s sister still lived in the area.”
McHale contacted Tina VanPelt immediately.
“I felt like I owed her an apology; we were treading on something that could be very triggering for a family member, so I wanted to let her know we’d done this and to ask her permission to redesign the area,” said McHale “And she was actually very grateful. She agreed to participate in the redesign of that space, and it became even more meaningful as a result.”
Rededicating the Space to Amy
Volunteers hard at work fixing up the area around the Amy Dexter Memorial. Photo Credit: Annie McHale
And so, about fifteen people, including VanPelt, the Women's Council, and other volunteers, met at the park to curate the space September 18.
When they arrived VanPelt said she had seen that someone had left “little things” sitting on top of Amy’s monument.
“I don’t know who left those things but I’m glad she’s still being visited by her friends,” said VanPelt.
A closeup of the Amy Dexter Memorial. Photo Credit: Annie McHale
Tina had dug up ferns from around her family's property and brought flat paving stones from her grandfather's collection to place in front of the memorial.
“One of the stones is shaped like an arrow and points in the direction of Red Bluff where our family homesteaded in Stevenson so many years ago,” said VanPelt. “And one of the ferns we planted is called a Mother fern. So, in a way, my mother will always be there with her.”
Others brought flowers and hostas to plant around the base of the trees where the memorial sits.
The completed memorial redesign. Photo Credit: Annie McHale
VanPelt said she was grateful that her sister’s story had not been swept under the rug like so many others who have experienced sexual assault and violence.
“It’s nice to live in a community where people don’t forget about things like this,” said VanPelt. “I’m glad that her memory still lives on and that all these years later we’re able to sit together as a community again and make that space a little nicer and remember Amy.”
Tina VanPelt and Amy Dexter on January 26th, 1991. The two had gone to get their pictures taken the same day Amy died.
Despite the fact that 31 years have passed since Amy died, Tina VanPelt, now 50, said it still feels like it “only happened yesterday.”
“She would have been 48 years old this year,” said VanPelt.
Tina VanPelt said she sometimes suffers from survivors guilt, but that talking about it with others has helped her a lot. “It hits me at these random moments,” said VanPelt “on vacation, on a holiday. I just think about how she will never get to have some of the experiences I’ve had. She’ll never get to be married or have kids.” Photo Credit: Tina VanPelt
Castonguay mirrored her sentiment saying that she often wondered who Amy would have grown up to become if she’d been given the chance.
Youth Activists Working to Raise Awareness
While Amy may have died 31 years ago, youth activists in the Gorge say her story is as relevant today as it ever was.
Josephine O’Mahoney, a tenth-grader who participates in the Women’s Council, designed the flier for the event. Arriana Wells, a senior at Stevenson High School, has also helped coordinate the event.
“My mother and I were involved in a domestic violence situation. We finally got out in May of 2022, and since then I’ve been involved in a lot of activism,” said Wells.
Wells said that her life experience has inspired her to pursue a career serving domestic violence victims once she graduates high school. She also had a message for others who may have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
Arriana Wells of Stevenson, Washington. Photo Credit: Ariana Wells
“I want to tell other women that there's no shame, even though we’re all very different and live different lives, we’re all one and the same. We're a sisterhood. You’re not alone. We have a connection,” said Wells.
Wells also wanted to call upon her community to pay closer attention to one another’s struggles.
“I want to call out to all school staff and librarians, grocery store workers, and hair stylists and people who work with youth every day, and ask them to pay more attention. Look for the signs of abuse because there may be someone out there that needs your help,” said Wells.
“I was a freshman in high school and sophomore when I was being victimized, and I think that if someone had taken notice it might have prevented a lot of the things that happened.”
Help for Trauma Survivors
A picture of Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in August of 2022 promoting their Stand up Against Domestic Violence Campaign during the Skamania County Fair.
Agencies around the region are working hard to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault like Wells and her mother.
In the last fiscal year (July 2021-June 2022) Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault served 213 individuals, 47 new sexual assault clients, provided 1,831 sheltered bed nights, 758 motel bed nights, and answered 3,187 hot line calls. SCCDVSA also spent over $90,000 on client assistance for things like rent, utilities, food, hygiene items, car repairs and relocation for safety. They also provided community awareness and prevention activities throughout the year.
“We serve clients that have been affected by intimate partner domestic violence,” said Lisa Alexander, Executive Director of Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. “We also have a confidential shelter that houses women and children that are fleeing domestic violence.”
VanPelt also encouraged anyone who has gone through traumatic experiences such as the death of a loved one, sexual assault, or domestic violence to reach out and find someone they can talk to.
“You have to talk about it with someone,” said VanPelt, “because otherwise it will just eat you up.”
There will be free resources for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault available at the Speak Out event
To connect with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault advocates in the Columbia River Gorge please contact:
Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Washington Gorge Action Program’s Programs for Peaceful Living
Support Local News
We need your help to keep us writing & reporting.
Without media reporting on important local issues and happenings in the Mid-Columbia region, we lose government accountability, we miss out on positive local reflections, important notices, and much more.
