A Cry for Help The Tracey Thurman Story (based on this case)

The movie A Cry for Help The Tracey Thurman story came to television in 1989. It was advertised as a movie based on a true story. The movie starred Nancy Mckeon. Mckeon received rave reviews for her portrayal of Thurman. The real case was based out of Torrington, Connecticut. It made national attention, and it was the subject of many talk shows. It also opened up a national discussion of how domestic abuse cases should be handled. Below you will find a few pics of the real woman as well as notes about the real case.

Tracey Thurman and the Case Against Charles Thurman

Facts in the Case of the Tracey Thurman Domestic Violence Issue

by Traciy Curry-Reyes

The Crime

Tracey Thurman had been staying at the home of a friend at the time of her attack. The attack took place in the backyard of the friends home according to sources. She was stabbed a total of 13 times between her head, neck, and arms. She was also severely beaten. As this was happening there were two cops observing the incident from the patrol car. It was not until they actually observed Charles stabbing Tracey that they tried to intervene. The neighbors were outraged. According to witnesses some of the neighbors were actually yelling and screaming at the cops to do something. Charles was finally arrested and convicted of 1st degree assault. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. That sentence was later reduced when he went back to court in 1987. He plead guilty that time and received the lesser sentence with the opportunity to earn good time credit while in prison. Charles was released in 1991 at about 12:30am. He stated that he had no interest in pursuing his ex wife Tracey, and that he was going to stay as far away from her as possible. His plan was to relocate to Kentucky, but the Domestic Violence Task Force of Kentucky did everything possible to bar him from relocating to their state. They did not want him there under any circumstances.  By this time Tracey is remarried and is living with her new husband and her son C.J. who was just 10 years old by this time. She was on pins and needles upon his release. She felt that she would never have any peace in her life because she would always have to worry about Buck finding them.



In April 1996 Tracey Motuzick went back to court to have a permanent restraining order placed on her ex husband Charles Thurman. It was considered one of the most strict restraining orders that could be placed upon a person. By the time that she had gone back to court she had remarried. She filed the restraining order under her new married name Tracey Thurman Motuzick. The restraining order stipulated that Buck Thurman have no contact with Tracey nor her son Charles jr. He is also not to have contact with people that know them. Thurman is also not allowed to show up at any place where he might run into them. In 1999, Charles Buck Thurman made headlines again because another lady went to court to seek a restraining order against him. Tracey Thurman was told about the incident, and she was not surprised. Charles was 38 years old at the time.

Extra Tidbits

The title of the movie A Cry for Help was indicative of the police's failure to provide help for Tracey and her son Cj. Charles Thurman Jr. Aka Cj also changed his last to Motuzick.

Tracey Thurman went to court and won a 2 million dollars law suit against the police department for failing to protect her despite her numerous calls to the police.

Where is Tracy Thurman Now

Tracy Thurman is married again. Her new last name is Motuzick. I can't confirm this, but it appears that she has another son who looks to be in his late teens or early twenties. Her ex husband Charles Buck Thurman was released in 1991 after serving 7 years in prison. There is still a 'life-time' restraining order against him. It does not appear that Tracy has had any trouble with him since that time.

Tracey Thurman aka Tracy Thurman Photos

Charles Thurman Jr aka Charles Thurman Motuzick

Charles Thurman's name was changed to Charles Motuzick. Since the movie debuted Tracey's son has been plagued with problems. According to sources this is most likely due to everything that he witnessed as a small child. Her son CJ is serving out a seven year sentence.  He had already served a 6 1/2 year term in prison. He was on probation at the time of his arrest. Tracy has supported him through all of his run-ins with the law. She appeared at nearly every court hearing that her son has had since his problems began back in 2000. At one court hearing Tracey and her new husband were there to support their son. Tracey was seen crying at the time. The judge in that hearing acknowledged that Cj seemed like a nice guy, and that he needed to make changes in his life. His attorney at the time suggested that Charles Jr.'s problems began after he was involved in an accident and became dependent on medication. His family and friends are all very supportive of him. We wish you luck in your journey Cj. Do know that you are more than what has happened to you, and that you matter.