Speak Her Name

When a family friend died unexpectedly, Dr. Mary Jumbelic was pulled into the investigation-and uncovered the true cause of death. This woman was one of hundreds uanble to move, unable to speak, laying on autopsy tables due to violent crimes. Mary uses her unique voice to speak for these victims and seek justice. Throughout her career as a medical examiner, Mary saw female bodies that had been sexually violated, battered, stabbed, and shot. Their corpses were dismembered. Some were buried in shallow graves, while others meticulously hidden. A majority of these deaths had been caused by someone the women knew-just like her friend. As a woman in a man's world, Mary spent her life honing her forensic skills. Through this work, she came to terms with events in her own life. Experiencing motherhood in juxtaposition with her job provided constant reminders of her two lives: one with the living, and one with the dead. Personal and professional experiences are interwoven in this tapestry of memoir.

Real Women. True stories.

We bear witness and use the truth to effect change. Together, we speak her name.