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At 22 years old, Cidni Fussell has taken charge of her story.

Born to teenage parents, she was raised by her grandparents 性视界传媒� her mother性视界传媒檚 parents 性视界传媒� until she was 6.

That性视界传媒檚 when her father, Justin Eugene Howard, who had been absent from her life and living in Kansas, came back into the picture. He took her to live with him and his then wife, Renee Pendarvis.

性视界传媒淚t was kind of out of the blue,性视界传媒� Fussell said of her father性视界传媒檚 return.

That was when her nightmare began.

Her father started molesting her, she said, making her participate in sexual activity.

性视界传媒淗e made it seem like it was normal,性视界传媒� Fussell said.

Fussell described her ordeal recently while sitting in her Longview home with Pendarvis.

Howard, 39, was arrested in June 2023 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact. He was sentenced in March by a Gregg County jury to 100 years in prison.

Fussell said during the abuse, Howard was diligent about sneaking around his wife.

性视界传媒淗e was very strict and would make sure no one was around,性视界传媒� Fussell said. The trio lived in Lakeport for most of the time the activity was occurring.

He installed an alarm system, she said, that sounded if anyone opened the doors or windows so he would know if someone was coming into the house.

For Pendarvis, the amount of time and attention he paid to Fussell seemed weird. She said she had no idea what was really going on.

性视界传媒淚f I性视界传媒檇 known that was going on, I would have killed him,性视界传媒� she said.

Fussell said her father never went so far as forcing vaginal intercourse, but when she was 17, he threatened to rape her when he was drunk.

性视界传媒淔rom there, I kind of distanced myself,性视界传媒� she said, but she was scared to tell anyone about the abuse because she didn性视界传媒檛 think people would believe her.

性视界传媒淭he older I got, the more controlling he became,性视界传媒� Fussell said. He only let her have a flip phone and wasn性视界传媒檛 allowed on social media. He told her she could have a boyfriend, but he put a tape recorder in her backpack and would listen to it each day.

When Fussell was at lunch one day at Longview High School, she was walking with a boy who was a friend when Howard came around the corner.

性视界传媒淗e got so mad that I was with a boy,性视界传媒� Fussell said. She had to go to the nurse to get insulin, and he spanked her all the way from the nurse性视界传媒檚 office to the car, she said.

Fussell said she thought of Pendarvis as her mother, but she and Howard divorced when she was a sophomore. Pendarvis tried to remain a part of her life, but Howard made it so difficult that she couldn性视界传媒檛.

As a Type 1 diabetic, Fussell couldn性视界传媒檛 just run away, she said.

She moved into her own apartment when she was 19. She was working in retail when the stress of everything she性视界传媒檇 been through caught up with her. She began drinking.

性视界传媒淭he only time I was sober was when I was at work,性视界传媒� Fussell said.

It all came to a head when she held a party at her apartment one night. She started crying and screaming about what had happened to her. She blacked out. The people she was with knew she considered Pendarvis her mother and called her. The next day Fussell and Pendarvis contacted police.

性视界传媒淵ou saved me,性视界传媒� Fussell said to Pendarvis.

性视界传媒淪he is the mother I性视界传媒檝e always dreamed of having. She性视界传媒檚 always there for me, and she supports me in everything,性视界传媒� Fussell said. 性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 so thankful God put her in my life. I know she性视界传媒檚 not my biological mother, but she treats me in a way that makes me feel like she is. I love her so much.性视界传媒�

Her biological mother didn性视界传媒檛 come to Howard性视界传媒檚 trial and still isn性视界传媒檛 really a part of her life.

Fussell recalled how helpful and encouraging Longview police Detective Debra Stiles was. Fussell said Stiles helped her 性视界传媒渦se her voice and not feel scared性视界传媒� about talking about what her father did.

Still, even after Howard性视界传媒檚 conviction, some of her father性视界传媒檚 family continue to doubt his abuse.

Fussell and her husband, Trey Fussell, have a 4-month-old daughter, Addy. He serves in the army, while she works from home as a reimbursement coordinator for home health and hospice. She性视界传媒檚 taking college courses, with plans to enter into the sonography program at Tyler Junior College

Fussell said she feels so strong, and she wants to start a podcast allowing other people to tell their stories if they性视界传媒檝e been through a similar ordeal.

性视界传媒淢y (biological) mother wasn性视界传媒檛 really around, and it makes me want to be the mother I always wished for,性视界传媒� Fussell said. 性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 so attached to (Addy), it性视界传媒檚 crazy. I don性视界传媒檛 want her to feel like I did growing up.性视界传媒�

And her life is different now.

性视界传媒淚 don性视界传媒檛 feel so anxious anymore,性视界传媒� Fussell said. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 a big relief off my shoulders.性视界传媒�