Levi Moore, an elder at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 2626 N. Lewis Ave., said the women were volunteers who walked door-to-door ministering and distributing religious literature.
So there is no doubt they were JWs who were attacked. I like the way the word "volunteers" was stated by this elder, suggesting there was no pressure put on them to do this work, and therefore the WTS had no responsibility for their actions .
I remember when I was a pioneer, we were told to ignore "Do Not Trespass" and "No Canvassing" signs as they "didn't apply to us" . I experienced quite a number of close calls myself! I had my ankle bitten by a dog on one occasion, fortunately I had a huge brother working with me at the time who "saved" me. There were many times when the householder would be holding on to the collars of huge snarling dogs while we talked on the doorstep. I dread to think what would have happened if the dog had slipped its collar or the owner had let go their grip!!
There were loads of occasions when the teenage version of me was alone at the doors due to nobody being available to accompany me, or with another teenage pioneer sister, talking to dodgy looking men in various states of dress (or rather undress). One elderly man opened the door totally naked . But not to worry, Jehovah was watching over us so all was well .
It actually amazes me that we don't hear of more tragedies like this happening. What I would like to know is, what will happen if and when those poor women recover and find they are too traumatised to go door knocking any more? Will they be severely reprimanded by the BOE and warned of impending Annihilation by Jah at armageddon for refusing to go out in service doing this "voluntary" work? I wouldn't put it past them!
