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Beaten and Left for Dead: The Story of Teri Jendusa-Nicolai
The bestselling true story of violence, control, courage, redemption...and a mother's love. The Crime of the Decade in Wisconsin.
WITH PHOTOS
Teri Jendusa never dreamed she would marry a violent, malignant narcissist like David Larsen. But she did. Why? Simple. Larsen cleverly concealed his true nature until the marriage vows were final. David, an eventual church council president and model citizen, rapidly began to morph into a monster and sociopath, telling Teri on their wedding day, “Now, I own you.”
Beaten and Left For Dead is a book about extreme marital violence, dominant control and psychological torment through the mind of the out-of-control David Larsen. It's also about survival, faith and a mother’s will to live for her children’s sake...as she faces death, face to face.
This is an ideal book for women’s studies and book clubs as it looks inside a large women’s shelter, giving the reader a glimpse of a support network. The author also interviews a counselor who works with violent men with surprising results.
Teri Jendusa-Nicolai continues to crusade for women’s issues to this day and currently works with a Wisconsin commission on domestic violence.
EDITORIAL PRAISE
"Teri Jendusa-Nicolai's story is a powerful example of the horrific lengths of barbarism a man can go to when he considers a woman his personal property. And it is, equally, an inspiring, riveting story of a woman's courage and clear thinking under the absolute worst of conditions, and of her tenacious hold to life...I am so grateful to Teri Jendusa-Nicolai and to Dave Alfvin for getting this story out to us. Don't miss it."
--Lundy Bancroft, best-selling author on domestic violence, trainer, and activist on male violence against women
"This book is important because it gets our message out as to what we do to help abusers change their value systems."
--Maureen Manning-Rosenfeld, Clinical Professional Counselor
WITH PHOTOS
Teri Jendusa never dreamed she would marry a violent, malignant narcissist like David Larsen. But she did. Why? Simple. Larsen cleverly concealed his true nature until the marriage vows were final. David, an eventual church council president and model citizen, rapidly began to morph into a monster and sociopath, telling Teri on their wedding day, “Now, I own you.”
Beaten and Left For Dead is a book about extreme marital violence, dominant control and psychological torment through the mind of the out-of-control David Larsen. It's also about survival, faith and a mother’s will to live for her children’s sake...as she faces death, face to face.
This is an ideal book for women’s studies and book clubs as it looks inside a large women’s shelter, giving the reader a glimpse of a support network. The author also interviews a counselor who works with violent men with surprising results.
Teri Jendusa-Nicolai continues to crusade for women’s issues to this day and currently works with a Wisconsin commission on domestic violence.
EDITORIAL PRAISE
"Teri Jendusa-Nicolai's story is a powerful example of the horrific lengths of barbarism a man can go to when he considers a woman his personal property. And it is, equally, an inspiring, riveting story of a woman's courage and clear thinking under the absolute worst of conditions, and of her tenacious hold to life...I am so grateful to Teri Jendusa-Nicolai and to Dave Alfvin for getting this story out to us. Don't miss it."
--Lundy Bancroft, best-selling author on domestic violence, trainer, and activist on male violence against women
"This book is important because it gets our message out as to what we do to help abusers change their value systems."
--Maureen Manning-Rosenfeld, Clinical Professional Counselor
- GenresTrue Crime
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2017
249 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 22, 2017
A case of abuse, horror and survival
Teri's story is hard to read because of the the terrible abuse she suffered for years, culminating in her near death.
This story should be put before adolescents in hopes that they will be more aware of what can happen when they choose (or settle for) the wrong partner.
By the grace of God, Teri was rescued and survived despite a long and painful recovery period. However, her life will never be the same as it was before she met and married David Larsen.
Teri's story is hard to read because of the the terrible abuse she suffered for years, culminating in her near death.
This story should be put before adolescents in hopes that they will be more aware of what can happen when they choose (or settle for) the wrong partner.
By the grace of God, Teri was rescued and survived despite a long and painful recovery period. However, her life will never be the same as it was before she met and married David Larsen.
November 5, 2019
I forgot to add this book to my read books of 2019.
A very hard book for me to read. Can't read books where women are abused any longer. I never had any trouble with books like this but lately I find it hard to read and this one especially because it was quite severe
A very hard book for me to read. Can't read books where women are abused any longer. I never had any trouble with books like this but lately I find it hard to read and this one especially because it was quite severe
June 21, 2017
An amazing and heartbreaking true story! The author does a great job at tackling an all-too-common issue in society. Spousal abuse is far-reaching and can escalate to dangerous levels. Even attempted murder. I hope that anyone reading this can see how it starts and the patterns that develop in abusers. This would be good text for women's shelters and transition houses to have on hand. It would help some women from going back. Definitely a page turner. Couldn't put it down.
January 21, 2018
More of a newspaper article
Well I completely sympathize with the plight of the victim in this book- what she went through is absolutely horrific , I don't think this is a really well researched or historical book in terms of what led up to his abuse, organized well, or detailed. There's nothing about his childhood or his family background that leads up to the way that he is . I would not pay any money for this book, you could get more from listening to her speak or reading newspaper articles.
Well I completely sympathize with the plight of the victim in this book- what she went through is absolutely horrific , I don't think this is a really well researched or historical book in terms of what led up to his abuse, organized well, or detailed. There's nothing about his childhood or his family background that leads up to the way that he is . I would not pay any money for this book, you could get more from listening to her speak or reading newspaper articles.
June 5, 2017
Bravery
Hats off to her for her bravery to survive. A must read! Informated also to seek help or to help others in need.
Hats off to her for her bravery to survive. A must read! Informated also to seek help or to help others in need.
July 6, 2017
Domestic Violence
This is a very basic book about wife beating and its causes and the treatment for it. However the story the victim tells is not ordinary but is scary.
This is a very basic book about wife beating and its causes and the treatment for it. However the story the victim tells is not ordinary but is scary.
March 22, 2018
A book of determination
Good book, just too many interviews. Would have liked more from the victim. Glad she survived her ordeal. Your are the true hero in this book.
Good book, just too many interviews. Would have liked more from the victim. Glad she survived her ordeal. Your are the true hero in this book.
December 24, 2018
Enjoyed it
July 22, 2023
Fast read.
January 6, 2018
Well done and brutal. Left me wondering had Alfvin incorporated more local lore and stories of weirdos from Norway, Windlake, Wheeling, etc...like John Berent did in "Midnight in the Garden of good and evil", this book might be a big hit! A good editor might have suggested that. Instead we get Editor Yeo's yuck yucky humor at the end, only leaving a bad finish.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews