I-Team: Woman Fighting To See Justice Against National Guard General
BOSTON (CBS) - Susan Pelletier has put her life in Kentucky on hold and moved back to Massachusetts to fight for justice.
"I get very upset; my insides shake; I feel my temp go up; it's very humiliating. I'm still pretty pissed off about it and I'm still in awe as to how the hell did this happen," she wondered.
The former Army soldier claims she was raped by Joseph Carter, who rose to become the leader of the Massachusetts National Guard, during a training mission in Florida back in 1984.
"I'm not going away until justice is done. I was told to keep quiet about it but I'm not going keep quiet about it," Pelletier said. "I was told it was in my best interest not to say anything and I never did. He pinned me down; my clothes were ripped; I had bruises; he was very violent."
Pelletier stayed silent for almost 30 years until the rape allegation surfaced during a 2010 court martial proceeding against Colonel Mark Murray.
It was Murray who initially looked into the rape allegation against Carter in the 1980s but it was never fully investigated until now.
General Carter denies that he raped Army 1st Class Pelletier, who was under his command at the time; and he denies even knowing her.
"He knows me, he knows me," Pelletier said. "I was the Captain's secretary and he was the Captain's right hand man."
The Army is investigating, and now the alleged assault has been reported to the Guard's Massachusetts Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, which could launch a criminal investigation in Florida, depending on the statute of limitations.
The former soldier says her life was destroyed by an arm of the military and a man she once trusted.
"I think it would be a lot better if he came clean with everything. He'd have a little bit of respect (left), even from myself," Pelletier said. "That would be a true soldier right there, you know, just come clean with it."
Carter had no comment on this latest development, but in the past he told us he was shocked by these allegations and said he is co-operating with investigators.
He remains on paid administrative leave indefinitely until the military's investigation is wrapped up.
