Looking back there were signs, but they were deceptively subtle. Her friends didn’t like him, he rarely came to her house, he couldn’t seem to let her go.
One day after seeing Nathaniel Fujita convicted of murdering his former girlfriend — her only daughter, Lauren Astley — Mary Dunne reflected on the ways parents can prevent tragedies like the one she is enduring.
Comments
Mary Dunne and Malcolm Astley are just incredibly brave and generous. My heart goes out to them and my prayers are for healing.
Good for them for recognizing the needs of young males. Simply blaming them would change nothing.
The proposal to teach emotions and loss in schools is a great idea. Parents are ldelusional if they think they have control over their children's intimate relationships. My daughter's father and I begged her not to marry him. She did anyway. What everyone needs to know is that this kind of subtle violence and control only escalates. It will NOT get better, as every victim thinks it will
The Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund is doing such important and inspiring work. Add Verb Productions, a program of the University of New England, is proud to partner with Mr. Astley and the Fund to bring our program, You The Man, to the Wayland High School community. Our professionally performed, one-man play addresses intimate partner violence and bystander empowerment, and how family, friends, and healthcare professionals can help clients and communities struggling with the issue. For more information about this program, contact us at addverb@une.edu or 207.221.4491. You can also visit our website at www.addverbproductions.org.