Wow! That was one hell of a segment they showed today. When did that originally air? The reason I ask is because I vaguely remember watching it when it first aired, but that had to be years ago! Anybody know of any updates on this one? That Curtis Croft is one hell of a guy.

ARRRRGH!!! I've been wanting to see this segment since it first aired, 15 years ago! I can't believe I missed it today.

I don't remember Curtis Croft. Could you tell me who he is?

15 years! That means I was only 7 when I first watched it. Curtis Croft is Jennifer Pratt's ex boyfriend. He was described as a California surfer dude who always caused a lot of trouble. He got busted in 85 for selling cocaine. Anyways, he told Jennifer he was only 17 when he was actually 24. He and Jennifer went out on his motorcycle one night against Jennifer's parents wishes, and when they were stopped at a stoplight, a car came up and blasted Jennifer in the back of her head with a 2X4. Curtis said he didn't recognize the people who did it because they were driving around 55 miles per hour. But then they did a mock test with dummies (which to me was the most interesting part of the segment) and both of the dummies' heads flew off, and they said that if she would have got hit by a 2X4 going 55 mph, it would have unquestionably killed them both. The investigator thinks Curtis is hiding the identities of who did it because Curtis ratted out some people before and got threatened for it. At one point, Curtis admitted he saw who did it, but then recanted that statement because he said the police pressured him into saying it.

Fascinating stuff man.

Whoa, I'm having a flashback. I'd forgotten about the dummy experiment! Yep, that segment aired the first season.

Looks like I'd better start taping. I'm missing the good stuff.

Here it is:

December 14, 1988

Reports on the deaths of three persons in a Nashville, Ind., house fire; a Carlsbad, Cal., teenager who was in a coma for three months following a motorcycle accident; and the killing of Pacific sea lions in Redondo Beach, Cal. Also: updates on previous reports on the 1978 murders of two Tennessee women; and a suspected Los Angeles bank robber.

I was 4 1/2 months old. :eek:

The depressing thing about this case is that it seems many people have their suspicions about who the attackers were but they won't talk.

the shows this week have all been from 87-88 and are REALLY good. The 'boys on the train tracks' story today, I hadn't seen in foreverrrrrrrr, and it was really creepy and good. Keep the older episodes coming, Lifetime!!

I wonder how Jennifer is doing these days. It was so sad how the attack affected her, she had to learn how to walk and talk all over again.

Yes, I hope that magically she is better. I know, not likely.

Diane Strom, or Susie, or Garry Strom, if you read this, can you give us an update? They are in their mid 60s.

A sad story, likely that Curtis was the target and the attackers should have waited for him to be riding alone not that it makes it any better but it would have for Jennifer.

I did remember this case but not the names, and wondered if there had been an update.

Hey guys,

I am obviously new here. Evr since I started watching UM, when I was a child ( 16 now) this case has always been intriguing to me. For several reasons, I have never fully been able to grasp how something like this could happen to anyone and secondly, Jenny is a distant cousin of mine. ( 3rd cousin I believe)

Her Mom and My mom are cousins. I have been reading this forum for about a month or so now, and I do know about your interest in this case. I have tried to find out some info from family sources, however it is quite difficult being as I live in New York and her family lives in California.

I am not nearly as informed on this case as some of you guys here are. For awhile I knew I had a cousin on the show, but I hadn't done extensive amount of research on it ( partially b/c it wasnt until a few months ago that I found the segment online).

I cant tell you a whole lot, but I am currently trying find out info from my family members. I cannot say I have ever met Jenny b/c of the distance in residence, but I will try my hardest to find out as much as I can.

I am glad you guys care about this case, and it hurts that even though I dont know her, she had to suffer through that and whoever responsible is at large.

Also I cannot confirm or Deny the fate of Curtis Croft. I wish I had a definitive answer for you all, but like I said, you probably know more then I do.

Like I said, I am trying to find out more, and if I find out anything as I know many of you are curious as to how Jenny is doing (as am I) I will pass it along to you.

I'm trying guys, I hope I can help us out on this.

Hey guys,

I am obviously new here. Evr since I started watching UM, when I was a child ( 16 now) this case has always been intriguing to me. For several reasons, I have never fully been able to grasp how something like this could happen to anyone and secondly, Jenny is a distant cousin of mine. ( 3rd cousin I believe)

Her Mom and My mom are cousins. I have been reading this forum for about a month or so now, and I do know about your interest in this case. I have tried to find out some info from family sources, however it is quite difficult being as I live in New York and her family lives in California.

I am not nearly as informed on this case as some of you guys here are. For awhile I knew I had a cousin on the show, but I hadn't done extensive amount of research on it ( partially b/c it wasnt until a few months ago that I found the segment online).

I cant tell you a whole lot, but I am currently trying find out info from my family members. I cannot say I have ever met Jenny b/c of the distance in residence, but I will try my hardest to find out as much as I can.

I am glad you guys care about this case, and it hurts that even though I dont know her, she had to suffer through that and whoever responsible is at large.

Also I cannot confirm or Deny the fate of Curtis Croft. I wish I had a definitive answer for you all, but like I said, you probably know more then I do.

Like I said, I am trying to find out more, and if I find out anything as I know many of you are curious as to how Jenny is doing (as am I) I will pass it along to you.

I'm trying guys, I hope I can help us out on this.

Thank you very much, we all hope she is better than she was on the show those few times and somehow miraculously improved.

Hey guys,

I am obviously new here. Evr since I started watching UM, when I was a child ( 16 now) this case has always been intriguing to me. For several reasons, I have never fully been able to grasp how something like this could happen to anyone and secondly, Jenny is a distant cousin of mine. ( 3rd cousin I believe)

Her Mom and My mom are cousins. I have been reading this forum for about a month or so now, and I do know about your interest in this case. I have tried to find out some info from family sources, however it is quite difficult being as I live in New York and her family lives in California.

I am not nearly as informed on this case as some of you guys here are. For awhile I knew I had a cousin on the show, but I hadn't done extensive amount of research on it ( partially b/c it wasnt until a few months ago that I found the segment online).

I cant tell you a whole lot, but I am currently trying find out info from my family members. I cannot say I have ever met Jenny b/c of the distance in residence, but I will try my hardest to find out as much as I can.

I am glad you guys care about this case, and it hurts that even though I dont know her, she had to suffer through that and whoever responsible is at large.

Also I cannot confirm or Deny the fate of Curtis Croft. I wish I had a definitive answer for you all, but like I said, you probably know more then I do.

Like I said, I am trying to find out more, and if I find out anything as I know many of you are curious as to how Jenny is doing (as am I) I will pass it along to you.

I'm trying guys, I hope I can help us out on this.

I have been hoping that someone from the Pratt family would find this board and tell us how Jennifer has been. Thank you so much for trying to find some info for us! I think Jennifer and her parents would be glad to know that so much of us here feel for her and hope she's doing well.

I have been hoping that someone from the Pratt family would find this board and tell us how Jennifer has been. Thank you so much for trying to find some info for us! I think Jennifer and her parents would be glad to know that so much of us here feel for her and hope she's doing well.


ok I know this is an old post and sorry for digging it back up....but I thought I had seen every single segment of unsolved mysteries....until now.....I just watched this segment for the first time and wow.......Im officially a big wuss cause when they were interviewing Jenny I teared up....not many times Ive teared up watching UM but this one got to me......such a moving story how she beat the odds and lived and her brave road to recovery....I hope they catch the people that did this

Watching now. Haven't seen this is about 3 yrs.

Um, his facebook says he read "A little Brain Damage can do you good" wtf

Um, his facebook says he read "A little Brain Damage can do you good" wtf

"His Facebook..." Could you be more specific, please?

I wonder about Jenny. I wonder where she lives today. Has she gotten any better? I hope she's as happy as she can be, and surrounded by family and friends.

"His Facebook..." Could you be more specific, please?

I wonder about Jenny. I wonder where she lives today. Has she gotten any better? I hope she's as happy as she can be, and surrounded by family and friends.

A poster named "Mikefairbanks" who claimed to be from the area where Jenny Pratt grew up posted a few years back and shared with us the following information:

Jenny Pratt is alive and lives in a group home. She visits her sister occasionally. She is mentally deficient, if that's the right term. She can carry on a conversation, but pretty much thinks like a small child. She is very healthy, but her damage was permanent.

This thread contains a lot of updated information on the case, much more than I reproduced here including information on the crime itself:

www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=139894&page=11

His facebook page...under books he has read.

I read through that thread with the info from the guest poster. I know that the inside info/perspective is appreciated.

It doesn't appear to be anything much different than what was updated by the Pratt family themselves with their sit down with bob on UM. As far as the family they deserve justice. Perhaps after years of disappointment and let downs they finally moved on. As Huey Littleton famously said(another UM parent who was frustrated in a similar fashion of getting people to talk)justice under the law.

If the statute of limitations is up that is unfortunate especially if it was not really a "mystery" As far as someone committing suicide that is unfortunate and I wish that the individual would have come fwd for help. In these cases when someone commits suicide it hurts everyone. I mentioned Huey Littleton above because this case reminds me a lot of that one although the crimes were different.

As far as the parents I understand their frustration and agree they deserve privacy and the ability to move on. For that reason people should not contact them or their family. as for this site until we get answers not just fill in the blanks I'd imagine it will continue to circulate. Especially this case because it seemed solvable. If anything maybe one of those people who participated in the attempted murder will post here or has/will read as a guest. After all that's still what it was.... being a young prep on a drugs/DUI crew is not an excuse to throw 2x4s from speeding vehicles. They are just as guilty and the same as a real thug from a bad neighborhood would be when they commit a crime. It seems like a lot of people would have had to protect them not just one another. I've been to that area it is a very nice place to be. But like other neighborhoods for whatever reason people have a tendency in some cases to protect each other rather than speak up and be the whistle blower.

I can't imagine having people critique me for the answers I gave in an interview like that. I always felt for Jenny's mom because she was just being honest and as a grieving mother had every right to feel the way she did.

Even if the statute of limitations is up, there is still reason for people to keep silent. When Jenny dies (hopefully a long, long time from now) there is a possibility that an autopsy may find that the COD was related to the assault. If this is the case, her death could be ruled a homicide. James Brady, who was wounded during the attempted assassination of Reagan in 1981, died in August of this year. His death was ruled a homicide.

California has no statute of limitations on murder.

Even if the statute of limitations is up, there is still reason for people to keep silent. When Jenny dies (hopefully a long, long time from now) there is a possibility that an autopsy may find that the COD was related to the assault. If this is the case, her death could be ruled a homicide. James Brady, who was wounded during the attempted assassination of Reagan in 1981, died in August of this year. His death was ruled a homicide.

California has no statute of limitations on murder.
Excellent point. I hope that Jenny is doing well!

Hey guys,

Has anyone found out why, when the parents found out that Curtis Croft was 24 years old, and they knew, they didn't call the Police or threaten Curtis with statutory rape? It was clearly an inappropriate relationship.

I'm not saying it makes them responsible, but it does leave a gaping hole in their judgment...

Hey guys,

Has anyone found out why, when the parents found out that Curtis Croft was 24 years old, and they knew, they didn't call the Police or threaten Curtis with statutory rape? It was clearly an inappropriate relationship.

I'm not saying it makes them responsible, but it does leave a gaping hole in their judgment...

We were never given the details. They eventually found out he was 24 and had been in jail but it was never specified when exactly they found this information out. Although we do know they didn't allow Jenny to go out with Curtis the night of her attack and Jenny went anyway.