By Gia Vang
EUGENE, Ore. -- The then 10-year-old girl who was kidnapped and raped in January took the stand Tuesday in the case against Malcolm M. Gerlach.
The victim, who is not being named because she is a minor, revealed to the court details about her conversations with Gerlach when he kidnapped her.
The first question the victim said she asked him was if he was going to kill her. Gerlach said no.
But she didn't believe him. She said, "I thought that he was lying to me, that that was going to be the day that I was going to die."
Then Gerlach took her to a secluded field and raped her.
The victim said after the rape, "I looked at the first star in the sky ... and I just hoped and prayed that a whole bunch of police would come out and save me."
Her prayer was answered. Shortly after, police were able to track Gerlach down. The victim remembers Gerlach mumbling to himself, wishing the police would go away.
The chase finally ended when the stolen car he was driving was bumped by a pursuing officer's car, which flipped it. The girl was not seriously injured.
Since then, Gerlach has confessed to all the crimes. His defense team is trying to prove that he committed them because he was insane.
Ultimately, a jury will make the call as to whether Gerlach is guilty by reason of insanity.
Closing arguments are expected Wednesday.
Comments
Insanity Plea
This man may very well be insane. Anyone that kidnaps a 10 y.o. little girl and rapes her, probably very well is. BUT. . .that is not a way out of paying for his crime. If he is found insane, then off to the State hospital for the criminally insane. And he should stay there FOREVER!! These people do NOT get better. Keep him locked up!!
that girl's life
That man took away that little girl's self-asteem, innocence, outlook on life, trust in others, and her ability to give her future husband a pure girl. That man used her for his pleasure, and then was either going to kill her, or otherwise dispose of her. No matter what we do to him, she will be scarred for life. I have no sypmathy for lowlife people like him. If he gets a better attorney than the state, he might go free.------to do it again, and ruin another life.