Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of domestic violence.
On the evening of Jan. 22, Seattle Seahawks player Chad Wheeler brutally assaulted his girlfriend Alleah Taylor in her own bedroom. Taylor, a 27-year-old healthcare worker, says the 6' 7" and 310-pound NFL lineman strangled, punched, and sat on her until she lost consciousness. Her survival, as she describes it, "was an act of God."
Wheeler, who was released by the Seahawks, pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of first-degree domestic violence assault, domestic violence unlawful imprisonment, and resisting arrest. He was released from jail after posting a $400,000 bond and apologized via Twitter for what he called "a manic episode."
For the first time since the attack, Taylor reveals in her own words what happened that night—and how she's learning to heal.
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