Brave Survivor: How Leigh Collins Turned a Nightmarish Assault into a Beacon of Hope and Empowerment

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Leigh Collins, originally from La Crosse and now residing in California, has decided to publicly recount a harrowing home invasion in which she nearly lost her life, aiming to provide hope and strategies for women facing similar dangers. Several years after relocating, Collins experienced a life-altering event late one night that led her on a path of recovery and advocacy against violence towards women.

Collins vividly described the terrifying instance when she awakened to her dog barking and found an intruder, armed with a knife, inside her apartment. The intruder threatened her with sexual assault, but Collins fought back fiercely. “I was in my bed, and suddenly there was a man in my apartment with a knife intending to rape me,” she recounted. Her resistance was successful, and she managed to chase the intruder away, but this marked the beginning of a challenging journey.

The assault left her with severe physical injuries, including multiple stab wounds and nearly severed fingers. The emotional toll was substantial as well, ingraining a deep sense of isolation and trauma that Collins would work through over the following months and years.

The attacker, identified as Rashad Devon Harris, was later captured by police who discovered that he had been stalking Collins for some time. Although he was not convicted of stalking, Harris was sentenced to life in prison for the assault and attempted sexual assault.

In sharing her story, Collins hopes to not only raise awareness about the realities of such brutal attacks but also to empower others. She emphasizes the importance of mental preparedness for self-defense, stating, “If someone is violent with you, they’ve already crossed that line. If they’ve entered your home, they’ve already crossed that line. Practicing your mind, what you’re willing to do if you have to defend yourself is crucial.”

The process of recounting her ordeal and the support from her family and friends have been integral to her healing. Collins noted the loneliness of surviving such a traumatic event, expressing surprise at how isolated she felt despite having a support network. “There’s just not a lot of depictions out there of people who live through something like this,” she said.

Looking ahead, Collins is channeling her experience into positive ventures, including plans to author a book detailing her journey from victim to advocate and survivor. Her story is not just one of survival, but also of resilience and empowerment.

Furthermore, Collins’ experience underscores the broader issue of violence against women and the importance of community and societal support in helping survivors navigate their recovery. Her proactive approach in sharing her story and planning preventive measures for others serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action to address and prevent violence in communities nationwide.