MadWerkz Producer Laura C. Cowan, a Mother of 3 – is an award-winning Speaker, Educator, Author, Advocate, Documentary Film Producer, and
Community Activist. Her tale of survival and heroism is one that will
be forever etched in California’s history. Escaping from an abusive
polygamist husband, Laura and her 3 children endured unimaginable
abuse. Locked away and held captive in a cold, dark garage with no
heat, food, water, or plumbing.

Laura was repeatedly raped, beaten, and starved, alongside her
children. Stripped of everything but the will to survive, not only for
herself but for her children; Laura would then decide to do the
unthinkable. Fearing that she would never make it out of that garage
alive, she began to meticulously keep detailed accounts (via pieces of
scrap paper she found throughout the garage) of the horrific daily
abuse that she and her children endured.

However, it would not be until an unplanned outside visit to the post
office with her capture that her life would forever be changed. On
that faithful day, Laura was able to pass a note pleading for help to a
post office clerk, who was then able to alert the proper authorities.
Two days later, detectives would emerge onto her captor’s
doorstep, where she and her children were finally rescued.

Today Laura is a graduate of Bryant & Stratton College, and presently
serving as a Resident Services Liaison with Cuyahoga Metropolitan
Housing Authority (CMHA), working in Resident Services as their
Domestic Violence Advocate. Laura assists CMHA Residents by
empowering, educating and advocating Residents for justice to end
domestic violence and child abuse by providing workshops,
materials, guidance, and emotional support.

READ THE AETV TRUE CRIME INTERVIEW HERE

Laura is heavily involved with several grassroots organizations and a
member of N.A.N (National Action Network). She is a former member
of the National Congress of Black Women, the Greater Cleveland
Chapter and volunteered for 10 years at the Journey for Safety and
Healing Center, formally known as the Domestic Violence and Child
Advocacy Center of Greater Cleveland and an Ambassador for the
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.

Awarded in 2014 – Crain’s “Women of Note”, 2015 – Women of Color
Foundation “The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Courage Award” “Verizon’s
Everyday Hero Award” and has appeared on Anderson Cooper Live,
Meredith Vieira Show, Anderson Cooper “360”, ID Investigation
Discovery: “House of Horrors”, and “No one can hear you scream”

Producer Laura Cowan with Director Joddy Eric

Tamron Hall, A&E, the Huffington Post, Fox Soul, CNN, the Meredith
Vieira Show, TVOne’s: Justice By Any Means with Malik Yoba, The Los
Angeles Times Multimedia Piece, Dr. Phil, local news, TV, radio, just
to name a few.

Laura was the Consulting Producer for WCAN/Elyria and is now in the
process of filming her own Documentary called “Be” with Executive Producer, Joddy Eric Matthews of MadWerkz Studios, which is about Activism.

Laura is the CEO and Founder of The Laura Cowan Foundation for
battered women that have served over 350 women since 2016.