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Highlands Today

Domestic Violence Can Happen To Anyone

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By Dan  Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: October 8, 2007

SEBRING — Lynn Mison's heartbreaking story of domestic abuse, which eventually led to the murder of her children by her ex-husband, captivated an audience at a domestic violence seminar Friday morning at South Florida Community College.

"I wish I didn't have to tell my story, I wish it didn't happen, but it did," Mison, of Sarasota, told the crowd of more than 40 people. "I was abused during my marriage, which led to the abuse of my children after my divorce."

Avi Kostner, Mison's ex-husband, was spared the death penalty by jurors after he pleaded guilty to killing his children Geri, 12, and Ryan, 10, in June 1994.

"If I were physically abused before I married him, the marriage wouldn't have taken place," said Mison. "We were only together for six-months before we were married."

Mison said that her marriage started to breakdown when she stopped teaching and stayed home to raise her first child. She thought that Kostner was a successful businessman, but came to the realization that he was not the man he said he was after a creditor called their home days after her daughter was born.

Soon after Kostner's finanicial lies came out during the marriage, Kostner started to physically and mentally abuse Mison, who told stories about being kicked down a flight of stairs and locked in a flooded basement.

"I tried leaving, I tried going to the police and telling them about the abuse," said Mison. "But I was told that it was my word against his."

Things got worse for Mison when Kostner left their home with the kids after closing her bank accounts and taking the majority of the money she had saved for an escape from the abuse.

After five years of motions and court proceedings for child support and custody squabbles following their divorce, Kostner snapped mentally and killed his children.

Kostner died in prsion in 2000 from cancer.

Mison said that one of the reason's she decided to speak to the audience was because she wanted to warn people about the signs of domestic violence. Signs like emotional abuse, isolation, intimidation, and economic and physical abuse.

Friday's seminar was sponsored by the Peace River Center, a domestic violence shelter and safehouse, with locations in Sebring and Lakeland.

Also speaking during the event were Linda Astacio, a victim's advocate for the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, and Debi Gulbrand, of Peace River.

According to Peace River officials, domestic violence affects more women than diabetes, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.

If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who is, you are encouraged to call the Peace River Center's 24-hour crisis hotline in Highlands County at (863) 386-1167.

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