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Abby Honold, who became a national voice for s*xual assault survivors, now leads as the Executive Director of Consent Education MN. Since her assault in 2014 by a University of Minnesota fraternity member, Abby has taken to advocating for better training in handling s*xual assault cases.
Honold's story was featured in House of Horrors: Secrets of College Greek Life which premiered on August 12, 2024. The series features the darker aspects of fraternity and sorority life within American universities, spotlighting real cases of assault and misconduct that have been linked to these institutions.
Today Abby Honold lives in Minneapolis with her husband Duke Merickel, where she continues to push for educational reforms and public speaking engagements to shed light on s*xual violence and the importance of consent.
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Her leadership at Consent Education MN allows her to shape programs that educate others about consent, aiming to prevent future assaults. Abby also drives initiatives that challenge and change outdated narratives about s*xual assault.
What happened to Abby Honold?
In 2014, Abby Honold's life changed irreversibly when she was assaulted by Daniel Drill-Mellum, a fellow student at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. The incident occurred during a football tailgate party.
Abby was introduced to Daniel by mutual friends who inaccurately described him as harmless. Trusting this information, Daniel then made Abby accompany him to his nearby apartment under the guise of getting more alcohol. Once inside, the atmosphere shifted drastically as he assaulted her, ignoring her pleas to stop.
After the assault, when Abby reached out to the authorities, their initial interactions were disheartening. The investigation was mishandled and her detailed account was met with skepticism, while the physical evidence seemed insufficient to build a strong case against Daniel.
Feeling isolated and unsupported, especially by the institutions meant to protect her, Abby faced an uphill battle for justice.
Honold's challenging legal battle
Abby's resolve did not wane as she pursued every avenue to ensure that her voice was heard. One turning point came from the medical staff who treated her following the assault. A nurse used a trauma-informed approach to help Abby articulate her experience, which became crucial in piecing together the evidence needed for a credible case.
The fraternity brothers at Sigma Phi Epsilon initially protected Daniel, leveraging a recorded conversation manipulated to portray the assault as consensual. The recording temporarily derailed the prosecution's efforts, leading to Daniel's initial release. However, Abby's continued advocacy and the emergence of another survivor with a similar story about Daniel led to the reopening of the case.
The collective push for accountability was crucial because it brought new attention to Abby’s case and pointed out the systemic issues within university settings that often protect perpetrators.
Daniel was eventually arrested again in December 2015 but avoided facing the full consequences of his actions. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal s*xual conduct and was sentenced to over six years in prison.
Abby Honold turned her painful experience into a force for change. After surviving her assault, Abby aimed to transform how sexual assault cases are handled and her tireless work led to the creation of the Abby Honold Act.
The law requires that police officers receive specialized training to adopt trauma-informed approaches during s*xual assault investigations. These methods are crucial as they help survivors feel supported and understood rather than overwhelmed or re-traumatized.
Now as the Executive Director at Consent Education MN, Abby continues her advocacy as a leader, educating the public about the vital importance of consent. Abby's journey from a college student to a prominent advocate showcases her resilience and dedication to transforming her past adversities into a hopeful future for others.
