-
Born
David Pelzer was born on December 29th, 1960, in California. -
Trip to the River-In the "Good Times"
When David Pelzer was younger, he did not take the child abuse his mother presented at an older age. Their family was ordinary. Once, they took a trip to a river not far from Johnson's Beach. This was David's favorite trip and memory of his family. -
Arm Accident
David's mother soon began to change drastically in her behavior. She beat David often now, and once she popped his arm out of place. She claimed he had fallen out of the top bunk in his bed. -
The Burns
David is one day forced to put his arms and body over the kitchen stove. He is in so much excruciating pain, but figures out that if he can stall his mother more, she will give up when David's older brothers come home. He continues this method throughout his abuse. -
Summer time-1965
During this summer, David's mom becomes even more violent. He soon realizes that he misses school, and that it might be his only escape ever. -
Back To School
David goes back to school finally. But his mother makes him wear his dirty clothes to school, and it is a huge embarrassment. The bruises on his face are fully exposed, and he makes up excuses to say how they happened. -
Starvation
David's mom soon started to play a little game with him, by starving him constantly for days at a time. David was weak and skinny, and his mother often let him just eat the leftover cereal left in his brothers breakfast bowls. -
The Fighting Begins
David continues to starve, and has entered the second grade. His mother is pregnant with a fourth child, and the fighting between his parents only just begins. They fight constantly at night, mostly over the treatment of David and his brothers. -
Last Trip
The family vacations one last time at the Russian River by Johnson's Beach. David is abused by his mother still on this trip, and he doesn't have very much fun anymore at the Russian River. He feels like his family is falling apart. -
Isolated From The Family
David is exiled from the family by his mother. She doesn't even call him by his name anymore, only by "the boy". He returns to school with no new clothes, and luckily recieves a lunch on most days. -
While Father Is Away
From the years 1968 to about 1971, David's abuse is continued more and more frequently. He tries stealing from other childrens lunches because of his hunger, and is only punished more severly. When David's father is away, the abuse is much greater and severe. He tries to get his father to help him, but he never offers much help. David is very lost without his father, and sleeps in the basement all alone. -
The Stabbing
David's mom becomes very drunk, and while in her rage she stabs David accidentally. The wound is not taken care of properly, and it becomes infected soon. David tells his father, who just tells him to keep doing all the chores that his mother insists he should do. -
The Games
David's mother has always played little "games" with him. She invents a new one called The Gas Chamber. She dumps lots of chemicals into a bucket, and while they are reacting she puts them in a bathroom with David. He cannot breathe during these periods of time, and nearly dies on several occations. -
Father Leaves
David's mother's games continue. He is forced to do everything for his drunken mom, and then the unthinkable happens. Soon after a fifth child is born, David's father leaves them for good. David is left with his mother in the home, and begins to lose hope of ever escaping the household. -
Rescued
David Pelzer was saved from child abuse by his school teachers and principal on March 5th, 1973.
