MI Sex Abuse Survivor Decries Early Release For Attacker

A Michigan sexual abuse survivor is asking prosecutors to appeal her attacker’s early release.

Roederick Hunter, 62, of Clinton Township, was convicted of eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (person under 13) in 2005. Online records show he was sentenced to 75 years in prison, but is now eligible for parole and could be released next month.

The woman, who spoke to Patch on the condition of anonymity, says her efforts are not an act of vengeance, but rather a plea for protection, calling Hunter’s actions "repetitive, deliberate, and predatory in nature."

"His behavior involved manipulation, control, and violence consistent with serial predation," she said, alluding to her belief that there are more victims.

If Hunter is allowed early release, she says it would not only endanger the community, but also destroy survivors’ trust in the justice system.

"For myself, the option of early release for him for this time served, robs me again from the life I could have had without trauma, and continues to violate me, my siblings and those who were never introduced as further victims to the trial," she says.

She says she has until Nov. 17 to file the appeal herself with the state, but hasn’t had any luck finding a lawyer. She said some lawyers have told her to reach out to prosecutors, and she says she has, but hasn’t heard back. And she’s worried they may not take the case or that the process will take longer than the deadline.

In 2014, Macomb County prosecutors said they were looking into other crimes linked to Hunter after he admitted to a 1991 rape that went unresolved for over two decades. Prosecutors, however, said too much time had passed to prosecute that case.

Patch asked prosecutors if they plan to appeal Hunter’s parole and about those other crimes they were looking into a decade ago. Patch also asked the Michigan Department of Corrections what conditions Hunter has met for parole. We will update this story when we hear back.