THOMASTON, Ga. (WRBL) – Kylie Strickland, a LaGrange native, was courting her ex-boyfriend Cody Weems for about two months when he allegedly started to abuse her. Strickland, a social media influencer, used TikTok as a platform to unfold consciousness and let others know they don’t seem to be alone.
Strickland stated fights between the couple typically escalated and he acquired bodily many occasions. Together with the bodily abuse, she stated Weems threatened to kill her. Strickland shared with Information 3 a recording she says is of Weems threatening her, individuals near her and her canines.
Within the newest incident, Weems is accused of allegedly dragging Strickland out to the woods the place he stomped on her inflicting a miscarriage. She survived with a fractured nostril, a damaged tailbone and lots of bruises.
“All I may take into consideration was ‘in the present day goes to be the day.’ In the present day goes to be the day that he lastly kills me and all I may take into consideration was ‘I hope anyone is looking the police.’ I don’t understand how I’m about to get away. I used to be serious about find out how to get away, I used to be considering of what I may do that might harm him sufficient to make him cease,” stated Strickland.
Strickland remembers combating again and attempting to carry on to the timber in lots of makes an attempt to get away.
She stated the abuse started early on within the relationship and he would typically blame the bodily abuse on the over use of alcohol.
On the time, Strickland had 1,000,000 followers on TikTok and was making about $1000 a day, making it her full time job. She took to the app to inform her followers in regards to the incident, hoped it raised consciousness about home violence and let others know they don’t seem to be alone.
“It was necessary to inform my story from begin to end, not in spite of everything my bruises had healed up and never after I’ve talked to a therapist. From begin to end, in order that perhaps I don’t need to say scare individuals however scare males or ladies into leaving earlier than it will get to the purpose that I used to be at,” stated Strickland.
Strickland confronted differing opinions after going public with the information earlier than her account was banned by TikTok. She doesn’t know why her account was banned however has made a again up account. She stated she obtained extra supportive feedback than destructive ones. She hopes her story evokes others to battle again in opposition to home violence.
“To go away. You’ll be able to’t assist a sufferer go away till they’re completely prepared to depart. Individuals had tried to assist me attempt to go away and I couldn’t transfer due to my security and my kids’s security. I couldn’t go away however it’s important to discover a technique to go away as a result of they’re not going to vary,” stated Strickland.
Strickland, a mom of 4, stated stored her kids away from Weems when she observed his abusive habits. She additionally stated she prevented going residence after the most recent incident to guard her kids from seeing her in a weak state.
She described the sensation as “very scary” understanding Weems may very well be launched from jail on bond as soon as it’s posted.
Weems was booked into Upson County Jail and has been charged with assault on an unborn youngster, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, aggravated sexual battery, housebreaking, kidnapping, and battery. These costs had been added to a earlier cost he obtained from a earlier relationship.
