News

Actions

Mother of Tulsa rape victim speaks out after recent high-profile sexual harassment allegations

Posted at 9:23 PM, Nov 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-30 18:38:09-05

TULSA -- The story is 13 years old and impossible to forget. 

She visits her daughter whenever she can, even on gloomy days like Wednesday. 

"I'm a survivor, I'm a trauma therapist for the last 35 years [and] I'm also the mother of a daughter that was raped and suffocated," said Dr. Maggie Zingman, the mother of 18-year-old rape victim Brittany Phillips. 

Her daughter was raped and strangled to death inside her east Tulsa apartment in 2004. 

"1 a.m. I got a knock at the door and he said very quickly, 'you need to call the Tulsa Police you're daughter's been murdered,'" she told 2 Works for You years ago. 

Back then, she didn't know where to turn. She's now taking her turn to catch a killer and to fight sex crimes. 

She's watched the high profile harassment claims lately: Harvey Weinstein, Bill O'Reilly and now Matt Lauer. 

"I thought, 'this is great, we're finally giving a voice to a lot of victims."

Sitting on a bench where she's cried for answers and a voice, she explained why the new culture of coming forward is no longer enough. 

"And it'll be an epidemic until the laws change."

Getting her own law passed last year, requiring those arrested for a felony to give a DNA sample. 

"If you see my face, if you go 'oh how beautiful, or how awful she lost her daughter. Then use that pain to motivate you to get these laws changed."

She said right now, laws don't keep predators in jail, and aren't specific enough for convictions. 

"If they don't change, this is going to keep happening."

But for now, in the midst of her quest to change the world, she takes just a moment to remember who she does it all for. 

"This fight's for you Britty."

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.

Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.

Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook