'I Want to Make a Difference': Willowbrook Woman Talks About Assault

A Willowbook woman who was sexually assaulted by an Indiana man last week in her home is speaking publicly about the attack in hopes of helping other victims of similar crimes, according to the Chicago Tribune.

» RELATED: Woman Attacked in Her Willowbrook Home Stabbed 17 Times in Face, Neck, Back and Torso

“I want to make a difference in someone else’s life,” Melissa Shuster, 26, told the Tribune and other media Friday afternoon after being released from Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

Shuster had been hospitalized for multiple injuries as a result of the assault and fighting back against her attacker, the report stated. Her injuries included broken bones and more than 17 stab wounds to the neck, back of the head and other areas, the report added.

Londale Madison, 31, of South Bend, Ind., is accused of stabbing and sexually assaulting Shuster on Aug. 29, and is being held on $5 million bail. The charges against him include attempted first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion and armed robbery. If convicted, Madison faces a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison.

» RELATED: $5 Million Bail for Man Accused of Brutalizing Willowbrook Woman

The following are answers to questions Shuster gave about the attack, Madison and other topics:

On surviving the attack:

“I was determined I wasn’t going to let this defeat me, that I would get on with my life. … The physical scars will go away over time.”

On Londale Madison:

“He is an animal. No human being should ever be treated like he treated me. I want to see him put away for a long time so he doesn’t see the light of day. … I defeated him. I took him down. Ultimately, I won in the end.”

On publicly talking about the attack:

“I want people to understand my story. It wasn’t easy the last four or five days. My parents could not recognize me at first.”