Seeking justice - an open letter from Olha Stefanishyna

This is not about programming or hobbies, it's about a serious crime

I moved from Ukraine to Austin, Texas in February 2022 after winning the Green Card lottery. With my background in web development and clothing design, I had two jobs: a personal shopper at Walmart (Walmart Supercenter, 13201 Ranch Rd 620 N, Austin) and a part-time React Developer; taking those important first steps in a new country.

It happened while I was sleeping in my apartment (Austin, 6800 McNeil Dr 1923) - an event that changed my life forever. I have a brief, terrifying memory of waking up to see one of my coworkers from Walmart. When I tried to reach for my phone, the coworker threw it to the floor. I turned my head to the right and saw someone else. I remember a tissue with some substance being placed over my face. After that, everything went blank. This wasn't a party gone wrong or a risky lifestyle choice - I was attacked while sleeping in my apartment.

The next day I woke up feeling ill, thinking I had nightmare and I caught the severe flu. I ignored it. But subsequent events forced me to remember it.

After the incident, Walmart managers underestimating my English discussed a lot of things near me, that is related to the attack, including terminating my employment, saying, "She doesn't remember anything, what's the problem? Let's just fire her.", "She didn't fight for herself", "She was sterilized". They spread videos I've never seen and thrown insults despite I was one of top performers. I got problems with my health that could not have occurred naturally. I started to set questions and put peices together.

Everyone who I asked what happened, told me to go to shelter, church or psychologist and I had almost no memories of what happened. But in the past, I had woken up during surgery to remove my appendix. This experience gave me first-hand experience with how medical drugs affect consciousness and memory. Because of this experience, I could finally understand what happened to me that night. Other victims never be able to make such a connection. Without a similar experience, they never understand what was done to them.

It took me a while to understand it. I was in a foreign country with a new language and legal environment. I started to suspect that it wasn't the flu several days after the attack. I found myself unable to accept it on two levels: the complete absence of my memory about the event, and the sheer inconceivable nature of what had transpired. At first, I thought I could have an issue with adaptation. I started to check health and visit doctors to learn what happened. I covered all the costs myself. Some managers discussed my personal medical information after that, accessed without my consent. The company treated me as an object, not as a person.

I reported the incident to law enforcement as soon as I felt I had enough information to accept the fact that I was attacked at my home, they closed the case without proper investigation and labeled me mentally unstable. Meanwhile, my coworkers in Walmart continued discussing me and my personal information, including medical data, without my involvement. This forced me to seek answers independently.

During my time in Austin, I became a target of systematic dehumanization. It started at Walmart and expanded throughout the community. My attackers manipulated social opinion through political tensions, fears, and prejudices. They labeled me as a "Russian scout," then a "Ukrainian prostitute," then "mentally retarded", "bueatifull trash", "dumpster", "liar", "happy layer" and "mentally unstable".

This isn't just one crime - it's a pattern. It is a dangerous form of exploitation, where predators can destroy anyone through assault, torture, personal data theft, and deliberate manipulation of social opinion. Such actions create a system where serious crimes become tolerated, and victims are silenced through humiliation and social isolation. Victims are left with long-lasting physical, psychological, and economic harm, while perpetrators face no consequences. It violates human rights and allows predators to set precedents where victims have no opportunity to defend themselves against those who obtain their personal data through employment or apartment rental processes.

Today it's me - tomorrow it could be anyone, regardless of their background, job position, or social status.

My life has never been easy. When I faced injustice I always did the best I could to defend myself. But it's impossible to protect yourself when your personal data is stolen and when someone enter your apartment while you're asleep and use drugs that erase memory. What can one do if you even cannot report to the police because you don't remember?

Moving to another country required all my resources. This attack nullified my efforts, leaving me without health, money, or the desire to continue. It shattered my trust in the world and took away the opportunity to build the life I had worked so hard for.

For society, addressing these issues is crucial to prevent such crimes from becoming systematic.

For me, obtaining information is vitally important to reclaim my life.

I seek legal support and invite anyone with relevant information or ability to help to contact me.