*David and Kaylie attended David’s graduation from the Federal Civilian Police Academy in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, during August 2019.*

*Kaylie attended the annual Walk of Hope held during National Crime Victims Rights Week in Lamar County during April 2019.*

*Spending the holidays with their kids is very important to David and Kaylie. Here, they are celebrating Thanksgiving 2018 with their five children: Chyanne, Matthew, Jacob, Ava, and Landon.*

Kaylie Owens is a proud survivor. A paralegal with Lone Star Legal Aid, she works day in and day out with domestic violence victims assisting them on their road to recovery. Passionate for her work, Kaylie helps her clients beyond the realm of her job as she can sympathize with their situation. A victim of a violent crime herself, Kaylie has strongly emerged from the other side of tragedy with an appreciative heart and demeanor. With a solid support system of family and friends, she attributes her survival to both determination and hope.

Born in South Carolina, Kaylie moved to Texarkana with her family when she was 7 years old. She and her younger sister, Kristen, grew up with her mom and stepfather, Kim and Randall Baggett. A graduate of Pleasant Grove High School, Kaylie met her first husband, Brandon Harrison, where they both worked. Not long after, they married and had two children, Landon and Ava. As a young mom, Kaylie was busy like most women with tending to her family and work. A legal assistant with attorney Lisa Crittenden from 2008-2014, Kaylie also worked at the Telford Unit as Assistant Commissary Manager before joining Lone Star Legal Aid in 2018.

There were various red flags Kaylie noticed throughout her marriage, some of which were troubling, but she simply kept focused on her family and tried to work through it. A variety of verbal and emotional abuse continued, along with escalating financial problems. Kaylie reports like it seemed that Brandon lived a double life, exhibiting an addictive and narcissistic personality. He would be in and out of work, and Kaylie was not sure where he was or where their money was being spent. He became increasingly domineering and possessive, always keeping track of her whereabouts.

In May of 2017, Kaylie filed for separation and cited harassment from Brandon as he had threatened suicide if she left him, was calling and texting her constantly, and frequently bothered her friends wanting to know where she was and what she was doing. He had moved out of their residence but kept harassing her, and by June, she didn’t want to have any interaction with him even though he had been seeing their children for visits. She was very fearful of him and recalls a baseball practice where she had dropped her son off and later found out Brandon had picked him up without her permission. Kaylie had changed the locks on the house but Brandon took their son, Landon, to the house and demanded that she talk to him. Kaylie was further concerned about the situation as there were guns in the home and her primary concern was for her son’s safety. The police were called, and her mom and stepfather interceded to help defuse the altercation. Kaylie stayed at her mom’s house with her children and was unsuccessful in getting a protective order since Brandon had not shown any physical abuse toward them.

*During a Dallas Cowboys versus Houston Texans football game on October 7, 2018, David proposed to Kaylie.*

Shortly thereafter, Brandon had gotten work out of town, and Kaylie had begun a friendship with David Owens. A former federal police officer, David was sympathetic to Kaylie’s situation and was very protective of her. When Brandon was back in town, he would see his children but only with other family members present as Kaylie avoided interaction with him since he always was demanding to talk to her, still sending harassing text messages. August 17, 2017, was the last time her kids saw their father. Kaylie states that Brandon had always been a good dad to Landon and Ava, helping coach Landon’s sport teams, and never showing any signs of danger toward them. By then, Kaylie had filed for divorce and sought a temporary restraining order and sole custody of her children. During this time, Brandon was again out of work and to Kaylie’s knowledge was living in an apartment in Texarkana. On September 11, Kaylie received an incoherent text message from him and later found out Brandon had taken a bottle of pills. The police had discovered him, and at the hospital his stomach was pumped. Still fearful of what he might do, Kaylie looked forward to the final hearing of their divorce proceedings which was supposed to take place on September 20. Brandon had still been calling and texting her friends demanding to know what she was doing.

On Friday, September 15, Kaylie had the day off and anticipated going to the rodeo with friends that evening. She ran some errands and was mindful to put her gun with her in her car. The house locks had been changed yet again, and by that afternoon, Kaylie was back home and anticipating her son to come home from school. Luckily, she had not already picked her daughter up and had received a call from a friend that Brandon was in New Boston. At approximately 3:15 p.m., she noticed her back door had been kicked in, and then suddenly Brandon was running toward her with a knife. A violent attack ensued with her being pinned on the floor with the knife to her throat followed by sexual assault. Kaylie claimed that he looked “crazy” and was full of rage. She pleaded with him to calm down and talk. Unbeknownst to him, she was able to get her phone and text 911 to both David and her mom. She tried to get away from him after he asked about her wedding ring which she claimed was in the car. The gun was also there, and she was hoping to get away from him to get to it. Brandon quickly became enraged again and tried to choke her after slapping her against the wall. She blacked out momentarily, and soon the police were arriving, and her family was outside. Brandon was taken into custody and charged with burglary and aggravated sexual assault. Kaylie and her kids went to her parents’ house to stay.

After such a harrowing ordeal, Kaylie tried to move on but that was understandably difficult. Her son at the time was 10 years old and her daughter was 4. Luckily, her daughter doesn’t have recollections of any trauma, but Landon did, seeing as he was at the scene having come off the school bus when his father was taken away by police. Seeing his mother so distraught and confused from the scene was very hard for him and with the help of his mom he entered therapy soon after. Kaylie says this was a huge help for both herself and for Landon. There was anger, hurt, despair, and countless other emotions they were dealing with as they tried to move past that day. Her family was a strong, steady support for Kaylie and the kids, as well as David. He was a Marine who had completed a tour overseas so he was aware of the struggles which accompany PTSD. Landon had wanted to return to their home in New Boston, but such terrible memories of what happened there distressed Kaylie. But she knew it was best for her son to return to the house so he could resume sports and be back at his old school. David worked very hard to repair the house, so they moved back into a new and different space. It was very hard for Landon to return to baseball, a sport that he loved but it brought back painful memories of his father. At Kaylie’s insistence, Landon did return to play, and for that she’s very grateful. A message she wanted him to learn with this was that you can’t let yourself quit something you love due to circumstances. She was desperate for herself and for her children to focus on the positive and make progress no matter how hard it was.

2018 progressed for Kaylie and her children toward healing with another obstacle to overcome. The trial was originally scheduled for May but began in September, and after a few days of testimony, Brandon was found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Kaylie recalls that getting through the trial was the hardest thing she ever did. In another move toward closure, she sold their home in New Boston and moved to Hooks where she and the kids could have a fresh start. She lives very close to her parents and siblings. She and David became much closer, and their relationship blossomed. He was loyally by her side, and she credits his love and support with helping them all through. David proposed to her at a Cowboys versus Texans game, and they were married in April 2019 at a small wedding in Hot Springs where Landon walked her down the aisle. They enjoyed a fabulous honeymoon in Mexico and settled back into their home in Hooks.

*Kaylie and David were married April 6, 2019, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, during a small chapel wedding surrounded by their family. (Photo by Bobby Hitt Photography)*

Their recovery continues, as Kaylie says it’s an ongoing process. She finds that she’s hyper vigilant about it and seeks to help others find their value and voice after surviving assault. Kaylie says, “Being a victim makes you vulnerable. But you can’t let fear control your life.” She strives to spread a message of hope and healing to others. Although it is still painful to recall the traumatic events, she is grateful for the “blessings” which transpired along the way which she declares is truly a “God thing.” When asked what is the biggest lesson she learned from her ordeal, Kaylie shares, “If you are a survivor of trauma, sexual assault, and/or suffer from PTSD, there are positives that can come out of it. It takes work, therapy, and a lot of hard days, but it is so worth it to come out on the other side.” She also has very helpful advice to others who are going through any form of abuse. For those trying to move forward, she advises, “Don’t ignore the red flags, no matter how small you think they are. There is more to abuse than just physical abuse. Seek out help. It is so important for people to speak up. It does get better, and it helps to talk about it.” She also wants victims to know what is available in the community for assistance. Domestic Violence Prevention, the Doorways program, food banks, and other agencies like Lone Star Legal Aid are standing by to help those in need. In addition, Kaylie says that many people don’t realize that there is a Crime Victims’ Compensation that individuals can apply for through the Attorney General’s office. This can help with costs relating to medical bills, loss of earnings, and mental health care.

In her spare time, Kaylie enjoys anything outdoors, especially hiking and camping. She loves the beach and doing any activity which keeps her active. Her favorite things include activities with her kids, such as football games and cheering events. Landon is now in the seventh grade, and Ava in the second where both kids are straight A students. In response to how her relationships have changed in the past few years, Kaylie says, “I never leave an opportunity out where I don’t say ‘I love you.’ The relationships with my kids and family have substantially strengthened because of this. Going to therapy really helped change my mindset and provided me with coping skills to deal with flashbacks, anxiety, and fear. I honestly don’t think we would be in the great shape that we are in without David or my parents.” Kaylie also feels the tremendous support from the Hooks community, and David is in the process of legally adopting Landon and Ava. The kids have grown very close to him and his three children. They all are one big happy family feeling blessed and grateful for each day that lies ahead of them. There is no doubt that going through what she did has made her a better person, and she remains determined to focus on many positive, happy blessings in life: “I know I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. We all love harder, live life to the fullest, don’t sweat the small stuff, and don’t take a moment for granted.”

Feature Stories

A Message of Hope & Healing