Pregnant woman's heartbreak as sister killed herself after being raped by her dad
A young woman says discovering she was pregnant with a baby girl has given her "purpose again" after her sister killed herself after being raped by their dad.
Jamie-leigh Craig, took her own life on December 22, 2016, aged 20, after their own dad, James Elder, raped her. Chloe Craig, 23, says their mum, Liz Craig, 45, died of a "broken heart" - unable to come to terms with what happened.
Chloe battled with her own mental health this year after the loss of her mum and sister but has put a Christmas tree up for the first time in two years. She is now expecting a little girl with her partner, Michael, 29, due in April 2023 and says their baby has given her “purpose” and a “reason to be here”.
Chloe, who is currently unemployed, from Glasgow, Scotland, said: “I believe that if my dad hadn’t come back into my life all my family would still be here."
Speaking about her mother, Liz, Chloe added: “After losing Jamie-leigh she went into a really deep depression. She was there in body but not in her mind. I carried the coffin of both my mum and my sister."
Now the 23 year old is expecting a baby, she said: “I’m now 22 weeks pregnant and have my purpose again." But this time of year still proves difficult. Chloe said: "Christmas is a hard time but I need to get used to living with my new family unit - I have a Christmas tree up for the first time in two years.
Chloe remembers vividly the day her sister, Jamie-leigh, came home and told her and mum Liz that their dad had raped her in September 2016. The father attacked Jamie-leigh at his flat in Parkhead, Glasgow.
She told her mum and sister what had happened before her death that December. Her statement to police was read out at the High Court in Glasgow when Elder was sent down for the assault - branded “unthinkable” by Judge Lord Matthews.
“I will never forget that,” Chloe said. “I was so shocked. I never thought he was capable of something like that. Me and my mum took turns looking after her and staying up with her as she couldn’t sleep.”
Elder was arrested and charged with rape but three months after the horrifying incident, Chloe got a call from her aunt to say her sister had attempted to commit suicide.
“I was at work and had loads of missed calls from her,” she said. As soon as I heard I went home and there were ambulance and police everywhere. I asked an officer if it was ‘good or bad news’ and the way he looked at me told me everything I needed to know."
Chloe continued: “My mum had found her after going out for just an hour and leaving her with a cup of tea. My mum was broken. She was crying her heart out.” Chloe helped her mum arrange the funeral for Jamie-leigh which they held on January 5 2017.
She said: “Everyone wore green because it was Jamie-leigh’s favourite colour and the colour for mental health.” In April 2018, her father, James Elder, was found guilty of rape at the High Court in Glasgow and sentenced to nine years in prison.
“I saw no remorse in his actions or words – in my eyes, he killed my sister,” Chloe said. "I don’t understand how you can give life to someone and harm them in that way. I will never get the answers I deserve.” Following the passing of her daughter, Liz, slipped into a depression and her health deteriorated.
Liz’s COPD - a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties - were exacerbated and she hardly left the house, Chloe said. On October 31 2021 the worst happened.
Chloe explained “I peeked my head in her room in the morning but it was all dark so I thought she was sleeping. I ordered some food and when it came I went to give it to her. Her skin was grey and her lips blue, I touch her and she was freezing cold. I knew she was gone, I went into shock thinking ‘this can’t be happening.'”
Chloe called 999 and an ambulance was with her within three minutes. A post-mortem revealed Liz died of cardiac enlargement and coronary artery scoliosis – or as Chloe believes, a broken heart.
Chloe had to arrange her mum's funeral by herself and said goodbye to her mum on November 19 2021 – Jamie-leigh’s birthday. “We all wore blue because she was a massive Rangers fan,” Chloe said. In my eyes my dad killed them both." Chloe continued “It’s been the hardest year of my life since."
Chloe was surprised to fall pregnant with her partner, Michael’s, baby after not thinking she would be able to have children. The pregnancy has helped Chloe with her grieving process.
“Michael knows everything I’ve been through,” she said. “He’s just brilliant - I might have lost my family but I’ve now got my reason to be here, I have to think forward."
Chloe still lights a candle for her mum and sister every year on the anniversary of their deaths. “I couldn’t have asked for a better sister,” she said. "She brought a wild side out of me - I hope they are proud of me.”
READ NEXT:
