WARNING: This story includes descriptions of sexual violence.
(NewsNation) — The nurse who helped two Kentucky women allegedly raped in the Bahamas during a Carnival cruise says she’s traumatized.
“It was bad. I’m traumatized from it, and I deal with things like this,” Ladonna Batty said during a Monday appearance on NewsNation’s “CUOMO.”
What was supposed to be a fun trip turned into a nightmare for Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson, who say they were drugged and raped during an onshore cruise excursion. They claim they were treated like criminals by authorities when they reported the assaults.
Nurse Batty says “There’s no chance that anything was made up.”
“You can’t make up puking everywhere and trembling and being scared to death. That’s not something you just make up,” Batty said.
Shearer and Dobson, along with their attorney, told NewsNation‘s Chris Cuomo last week they’re angry with local authorities, who they say didn’t administer proper sexual assault test kits when they reported the assaults. Toxicology results showed traces of benzodiazepines, among other drugs, in their systems.
Carnival Cruise Lines addressed the incident in a statement to NewsNation.
“Our onboard Care Team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville. Bahamian police are investigating the matter and Carnival is providing our full cooperation,” it read in part.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
NewsNation’s Laura Ingle and Tyler Wornell contributed to this report.
