Local woman reacts to military sex assault report

DAYTON, Ohio WDTN) - A Wilmington woman is one of several filing a lawsuit, claiming not only where they victims of sexual assault in the U.S. military, they were victims of a system that ignored their claims.

A Vandalia woman made the issue her personal crusade after her daughter was victimized, then murdered.

Kori Cioca drops her head while discussing the abuse she says she endured during her time on the U-S Coast Guard.

The 25 year-old Wilmington native says she sought help, but was turned away and told to be quiet.

Cioca is now one of more than a dozen women, and two men, who say the military allows it's service members to get away with rape and other sexual abuse and often forces the victims to serve alongside their attackers.

The allegations may sound shocking to some, but for another Dayton area family, they're all too familiar.

"It's like a broken record. It's again and again and you wish it would be on the decline but that doesn't seem to be happening," said Mary Lauterbach.

It's been just over 3 years since Mary Lauterbach's daughter, Maria, was murdered by a fellow Marine who Maria accused of raping her.

Since Maria's death, attorney Merle Wilberding and Mary Lauterbach have fought for changes in the way the military handles rape and sexual abuse cases.

Lauterbach and Wilberding urge you to contact your lawmakers and make them better protect women and men in the military.