Photo Courtesy of Brevard County Jail
Thirty-three years ago, Gail Gardner survived a brutal rape at the hands of a serial rapist in the Orlando, Florida, area. On Tuesday, Gardner finally received justice after George Girtman was charged with 15 additional charges for his role as the “Malibu Rapist,” including Gardner’s sexual assault.
Girtman has been incarcerated since 1992. His first conviction was in 1976, but his torment of women did not cease after his release. He raped Gail Gardner in 1988 and was convicted of other assaults in 1990. His victims ranged in age from six years old to 40.
Gardner has spent the decades since her rape acquiring advanced degrees, becoming an educator and advocating for survivors of sexual assault.
“I survived a horrific crime, and I thrived because I moved forward in my life, to live and to advocate for those who are having difficulty moving forward in theirs,” Gardner said
.When Gardner reported the rape back in 1988, she said went on with her life “without a result or conclusion.” However, in 2019, she inquired about the case again, and her inquiry paid off.
“I had no idea that this case was not closed,” Gardner said at a Tuesday news conference. “I had no idea where Mr. Girtman — and I say that loosely — was. I had no idea.”
Gardner’s case once again sheds light on the rape kit backlog that plagues many states. Evidence collected from rape kits can be key to finding and prosecuting offenders. However, the kits tend to be mishandled.