Warning: The following text contains descriptions of domestic violence that some readers may find distressing.
Heather Cornelius has publicly shared her experience as a survivor of prolonged domestic abuse, detailing a particularly horrific attack that nearly cost her life.
In 2024, Heather began using TikTok as a platform to share her story, with her first video posted in October gaining over 15 million views. In it, she opened up about the sustained abuse she suffered over more than 11 years of marriage. She referred to herself as an “extreme case,” recounting a traumatic event in which her husband poured a chemical substance into her eyes, resulting in severe injuries that caused her eyelids to dissolve.
Heather explained that the assault took place in November 2022, after she attempted to leave her partner. Following threats made against her, she returned home, where he instructed her to lie down before carrying out the attack. In an interview with PEOPLE, she described the moment in chilling detail. When she turned her back, he told her to get on the floor, and out of fear, she complied without resistance. Upon looking up, she saw him wearing gloves and holding a white container. As she tried to rise, he forced her back down and began pouring the substance into her right eye. Despite her cries and pleas, he continued with the assault, warning her to stay silent or he would kill her, before pouring the chemical into her left eye as well.
The physical and emotional toll of the incident was devastating. Heather was temporarily blinded and ultimately required five reconstructive surgeries. Her right eye was surgically closed as a result of the injuries. She described the pain as indescribable, recalling how she had to dissociate mentally just to survive.
At the time, Heather was believed to be residing in Kansas. Her husband was taken into custody in May 2023 but was later released. He moved to Alaska while law enforcement continued efforts to build a case. However, justice was never served—Heather was informed in November 2023 that her husband had died.
Despite the unimaginable trauma she endured, Heather now says she is in a much stronger place mentally and emotionally. She has continued therapy, her children are thriving in school and also receiving counseling, and she has purchased a home independently. “I feel like I’m probably in the best head space that I’ve ever been in,” she said, adding that she now looks forward to each day.
Source: PEOPLE Magazine
