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Birth of Alice Sebold
Alice Sebold was born on September 16, 1963 in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born into a house fueld by dysfunction and academics. Her mother, Jane Sebold, was an alcoholic, who suffered panic and anxiety attacks, leaving Alice and her older sister Mary to take care of her. Alice's father a highly educated Spanish professor, eventually relocated his family to Paoli, Pennsylvania where he could teach at The University of Pennsylvania. -
Alice graduates from Great Valley High School
After relocating to Paoli, Pennsylvania, Alice began to attend Great Valley High School. After honors and very impressive grades Alice graduated from Great Valley and began looking into colleges. Alice finally decides on Syracuse University and starts packing in preparation of her move there the following September. -
Alice enrolls at Syracuse University
After graduating Great Valley High School in 1980, Alice Sebold applied to three different universitys, Emerson College, The University of Pennsylvania and Syracuse. After much deliberation she enrolled at Syracuse University in upstate New York in an attempt to distance herself from her hectic family. Little did she know that during her first year at the school, she would suffer a horrific event that would change her life. -
Alice is brutally attacked and raped
In the early hours of May 8th 1981 Alice Sebold began her walk back to her dorm room through Thorden Park. It wasn't long before she noticed she was being followed and became uneasy. A black man by the name of Gregory Madison threatened Alice with a knife, dragged her down a path and into a tunnel where he began to rape her. After the assault Gregory Madison robbed her of the money in her wallet and left the crime scene. -
Alice leaves Syracuse University
After being awake for over 24 hours and going through various procedures with police, doctors and the University, Alice's mother and best friend pack up her dorm up so she'll be able to move back to Paoli, Pennsilyvania with her mother and father. The drive back home with Alice's parents is sad and awkward due to the strange family dynamic. -
Alice returns to Syracuse University
After leaving Syracuse Alice began on the road to recovery. She spent time with her family, worked out with her mother and battled a few of her inner demons. Living in a house hold that believes so firmly in education, her parents were not going to let her drop out of school entirely, but were very hesitant to let her return to Syracuse. In the end Alice chose not to let what happened to her dictate the rest of her life and ended up returning to Syracuse University. -
Alice spots Gregory Madison on a campus street
Walking down Marshall Street Alice sees her assaliant Gregory Madison for the first time since the initial attack on May 8th. As Gregory was crossing Marshall Street he acknowledged Alice by calling "Hey, girl, don't I know you from somewhere?" Alice immediately began taking note of Gregory's features and watched him walk up to a red haired officer behind her. -
Alice spots Gregory Madison on campus street
Back at the campus she called her parents, informed her teacher of the reasons behind her absense of his class that day, called the police, gave her description and drew her own rough sketch. Syracuse University Security and Syracuse City Police arrived at Alice's dorm to take her statement and begin searching for Gregory. Thanks to Alice noticing the red haired police that had been behind her talking to Gregory (Officer Clapper) Gregory Madison is apprehanded and taken into custody. -
Preliminary hearing
On October 19th there was a preliminary hearing scheduled to determine if there was enough evidence in Alice's case to support a grand jury. Alice's poetry teacher, Tess Gallagher, accompanied Alice to the hearing. The defendant was Gregory Madison, the plaintiff the People of the State of New York. -
Alice returns to Syracuse Police Department for line up
During the line up Alice had her attorney and friend, Gail Uebelhoer with her in the room, as well as the defense attorney and a few police officers. Gregory Madison and his defense attorney played the system, legally, by having Gregory's brother stand next to him in the line up. His brother gives a scary look when Alice is in front of him in the mirror while Gregory looks down and confused. Alice chooses his friend in the line up but this is the only flaw in her case. -
Pretrial hearing
Alice and Tess Gallagher attend the pretrial hearing together. This is where the judge will decide if there is enough evidence to pursue this case with a grand jury. Both the defense and the state interview Alice on the stand. -
City of Syracuse scheduled to testify
Alice and her father arrive at court for the begining of the trial. Her mother, due to her frequent panic attacks, and her sister, due to her university, are both unable to attend. The police officer assigned to "guard" her, her lawyer, the bailff and Tess all offer words of encouragement. -
Sentencing of Gregory Madison
Alice and her father were preparing to leave Syracuse once again when Officer Murphy informed them that Madison was found guilty on six counts. On June 2nd Alice recieved a letter from the probation department of the County of Onondaga, she wrote back to them recommending the maximum sentence allowable for Madison, quoting him calling her "the worst bitch" Not long after, Gregory Madison was given the maximum sentance for rape and sodomny, eight and a third to twenty five years. -
Lila is raped in their shared apartment
8:56 pm Alice experienced severe abdomenal pains at a Robert Bly reading and began to head to her shared apartment with then best friend Lila Rinehart. Upon reaching the apartment building Alice sees various police cars and ambulances. After speaking with now Detective Clapper Alice hears the news of Lila's rape that took place in her bed. Lila shuts out Alice and quickly moves back to her home with her father. -
Alice graduates from Syracuse
After Alice's friend Lila is raped, she concentrates almost soley on graduating from Syracuse. Alice refuses to attend the graduation ceremony and spends the day packing her apartment. Jane and her husband showed up on the day of Alice's graduation, prepared to help her pack and move out of their as quickly as possible.
