Woman Says She 'Left Her Body' As Abusive Husband Attacked Her With Chemicals

Warning: This article discusses domestic violence and may be upsetting for some readers.

A woman’s life was forever changed after a horrifying attack where her abusive husband poured chemicals directly into her eyes, leaving her terrified and severely injured.

In 2024, Heather Cornelius made the courageous decision to start a TikTok account where she began sharing her story of survival and abuse.

She posted her first video in October, and it struck a chord with millions. The video quickly went viral, racking up more than 15 million views.

In her video, Heather opened up about the long-term abuse she suffered during her 11-year marriage. She didn’t hold back when describing the pain and fear she experienced over the years.

She referred to herself as an 'extreme case' after recounting a horrific moment where her husband poured chemicals into her eyes — an attack so severe it caused her eyelids to literally melt off.

Heather Cornelius had chemicals poured into her eyes by her abusive husband heathercornelius19/TikTok

"I believed I was going to die," she said while reflecting on the terrifying attack. Heather would go on to endure five separate reconstructive surgeries as a result of the damage done by her husband's actions.

The violent incident happened in November 2022. Heather had been trying to leave the relationship, but after he made serious threats, she returned home — only to face unimaginable cruelty.

During her interview with PEOPLE, Heather said: "My back was turned and he told me, 'Lay on the floor.' I didn't ask anything, I didn't try to resist. At that point, when he told me to do something, I did it just to get it over with."

"So I did what he said. When I looked up, I saw that he had blue gloves on and a white container. I tried to sit up, he pushed me back down. And he started pouring something in my right eye."

Heather, who was believed to be living in Kansas at the time, explained that the pain she went through that day was beyond anything she could ever describe.

"I was begging for him to stop and screaming," she shared. "I don't know how I made it through. I swear, God allowed me to leave my body for a moment to survive."

"He told me if I wasn't quiet, he was going to kill me. So I went quiet, and then he started pouring it in my left eye. And then, he was done."

For months, Heather was completely blind. Eventually, doctors had to surgically close her right eye to help with the damage she had suffered.

How Heather looked before the harrowing attack heathercornelius19/TikTok

In May 2023, her husband was finally taken into custody. But even after that, he was released.

He ended up moving to Alaska while investigators continued trying to build a strong case against him.

Unfortunately, Heather never got the legal justice she hoped for. In November 2023, she received word that her husband had passed away.

Despite everything she’s been through, Heather says she has finally reached a place of peace and healing.

"I feel like I'm probably in the best head space that I've ever been in," she said confidently.

"I have a regular therapist, my kids are in therapy and they're doing great in school. I bought a house and I did it on my own."

She also said that every morning she wakes up, she feels hopeful and excited for the day ahead.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you're not alone. Help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline anytime, 24/7, at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233). For a full list of local resources, click here.