Holly shares memory loss and recovery after Cincinnati attacker pleads guilty

Holly, the woman knocked unconscious during a violent brawl in downtown Cincinnati, spoke publicly just hours after Patrick Rosemond entered a guilty plea Thursday. The attacker had rejected a four-year plea agreement only the day before. He now faces a prison sentence ranging from 21 to 35 years.

Holly described the immediate aftermath of the assault as an out-of-body experience. She recalled feeling numb and nauseous while lying on the ground. She remembered a stranger lying on top of her to protect her from others who wanted to kick her while she was down. That woman yelled her name, telling her to get up.

The traumatic brain injury wiped away nearly all her memories from before the attack. Holly said her childhood and life raising her children feel like they belong to a different person. She relies on others to tell her stories or show her pictures to understand her past. For the last year, she has been figuring out what she likes, including food, as if starting from a blank slate.

The loss of memories has created an emotional distance from her family. Holly described looking at photos of milestones, such as dancing while brushing her teeth to Lady Gaga, as if looking at a stranger’s children. She acknowledged that it hurts her children to lack those shared memories with her.

Holly continued her professional pursuits despite physical setbacks that affected her vision. When she could not read text, she closed her eyes and typed to finish writing a book. She also studied through persistent migraines to become a certified life coach, reviewing training materials multiple times to overcome her memory hurdles.

She testified in person against Rosemond when the case went to trial. Holly described seeing him in the courtroom as terrifying, comparing him to the boogeyman haunting her under the bed. She said looking into his eyes felt like looking at pure evil. The guilty plea cut the trial short, but Holly plans to return to court to deliver a statement at his sentencing hearing.

Holly hopes her participation in the legal process provides closure for others who have been victimized but lacked the strength to press forward. She said speaking directly to Rosemond about how the assault affected her could help other people find similar closure. The case also prompted Sen. Bernie Moreno to propose a federal bail reform measure titled Holly’s Act on Capitol Hill.