A STORY OF HARDSHIP
Essexville resident Nichole Harrison sits in her home holding a photo of her younger bother Jeffery Militello and her daughter Alaina on Sunday Dec. 8, 2013 in Essexville, Mich. Militello was placed in an adult prison at the age of 16 for a Criminal Sexual Conduct charge.
Nichole Harrison and Jeffery Militello are more than just brother and sister.
They're confidants. They're best friends. They're one another's protectors. And, most importantly, they were the only thing one another had for a majority of their chidhood.
Jeffery, who grew up in a house with drug addict parents and frequent police raids, turned to his older sister and came to view her as a parental figure.
At the age of 16, Nichole moved out of her house and began taking care of Jeffery full time. Shortly after, she gained guardianship of him and thought everything would be OK.
That is, until Jeffery got involved with his biological mother again and ended up in trouble. Charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct, Jeffery was put in prison at the age of 16.
Ever since, Nichole's life has been flipped upside down. She lost her everything, she said. Yet, she still acts as a maternal figure, taking the blame for Jeffery's mistakes.
"I don't know why (Jeffery) did what he did, but I take the blame," she said.
Through tears, Nichole tells the story of Jeffery's childhood, what he's seen and experienced behind bars and how her life will never be the same. She isn't sure when he'll be getting out, but one thing is for certain: She'll be waiting with open arms.