Ruth, or “Ruthie” as she was known as on campus, was a physical therapy student at the University of Illinois in Chicago. But around 2 AM on November 23, 2019 she was assaulted and murdered while trying to safely reach her car. While walking alone towards her car she unintentionally became target to Donald Thurman who began to pursue her, at first verbally, through a series of catcalls. After George ignored Thurman, he grew angry and continued to follow her to her car. Thurman choked her and yanked her into the car, where he followed to sexually assault her before making a run out of the garage where George’s car was parked. 

Later that night, Ruth was found unconscious and pronounced dead, left with drag marks from her shoes and fingers to fight against the struggle. 

Ruth’s experience represents the fear that most women hold while walking alone, in the dark, or in quiet places. Ruth had done nothing harmful to inflict this upon her. She was unresponsive to a catcaller, and yet she still suffered terribly. Ruth’s fear is often felt in the hearts of many women getting called out too, the fear of knowing that this situation is dangerous and could quickly escalate. 

    Thurman was charged of first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault. 

May our hopes be with Ruth and her family. 

Sources found from Alex Horton,  The Washington Post,