This case was aired yest. Afternoon I had never seen it and let me say it really freaked me out! She's the lady that was carjacked in Winston Salem taken to Fayettville tried to run and was raped in the woods and shot in the face. Needless to say since I only live an hour from Winston when there was no solved update I was truly scared. Does anyone know if this nut has been captured?

Is that the one where a blue jacket was left behind in the woods and the police believe it belonged to the rapist? I can only imagine the horror that woman went through. That segment is one of the most disturbing ever made by UM. :mad:

Yes that was it. What was really scary was when he was screaming at her they mad his voice eerie sounding it sent shivers down my spine!

So this was shown on Spike, eh? Interesting as it is another one of those segments that never did make it to Lifetime. I would presume that if there was no update shown that would mean the case still isn't solved. Maybe now that it is airing again it will jog some memories.

Something that occurred to me - they do have this guy's DNA, right? I wonder if it has been checked on the offender database? I got the vibe this guy wasn't a first time offender.

I agree completely. That segment scared the bejeezus out of me. Around that time, Winston-Salem had two notoriously brutal rapists roaming the streets: Ernest Cherry (who currently is incarcerated for the rape and attempted murder of Christy Gallaher) and Willard Brown (who was the actual rapist/murderer in the famous case of Darryl Hunt). Both of these men fit the profile of what was detailed on UM. If they have not been investigated for this crime, they should be.

FYI -

http://unsolved.com/ajaxfiles/wan_shotgun_survivor.htm

I caught this yesterday afternoon and found that Spike used a different composite sketch than what was on the original NBC airing as well as the website---this one was clearly one of those FACES things. Does anyone know if this is just a different sketch of the same suspect, or did Spike goof up?

I agree that he is probably a previous offender. In the original segment they said that the police have scientific evidence that will be able to establish the attacker should a suspect ever be considered. So they either have his DNA or fingerprints which will link him to the crime when he is caught. I am surprised the police have not ran the evidence through CODIS or AFIS and get this bastard captured. Debbie said that the attacker said he once killed a man in New York so that means he is probably a repeating offender.

I agree that he is probably a previous offender. In the original segment they said that the police have scientific evidence that will be able to establish the attacker should a suspect ever be considered. So they either have his DNA or fingerprints which will link him to the crime when he is caught. I am surprised the police have not ran the evidence through CODIS or AFIS and get this bastard captured. Debbie said that the attacker said he once killed a man in New York so that means he is probably a repeating offender.
If they have prints or DNA, I'm sure they have run it through the databases. The fact that this person most likely has done this before or since doesn't mean that he has ever been caught before or had his DNA sample taken. Honestly, there are serial killers and serial rapists still out there whose DNA gets run through CODIS all the time, and they are still not caught. Hopefully, some day, this guy will be. Also, just because he told her that he had killed someone in New York before doesn't mean that he did. He could have just been telling her that to scare her so she would do what he said. (The Zodiac told two of his victims that he had just recently killed a guard escaping from a prison in Montana, and that was a complete lie.)

Originally Posted by zack007attack
I agree that he is probably a previous offender. In the original segment they said that the police have scientific evidence that will be able to establish the attacker should a suspect ever be considered. So they either have his DNA or fingerprints which will link him to the crime when he is caught. I am surprised the police have not ran the evidence through CODIS or AFIS and get this bastard captured. Debbie said that the attacker said he once killed a man in New York so that means he is probably a repeating offender.

If they have prints or DNA, I'm sure they have run it through the databases. The fact that this person most likely has done this before or since doesn't mean that he has ever been caught before or had his DNA sample taken. Honestly, there are serial killers and serial rapists still out there whose DNA gets run through CODIS all the time, and they are still not caught. Hopefully, some day, this guy will be. Also, just because he told her that he had killed someone in New York before doesn't mean that he did. He could have just been telling her that to scare her so she would do what he said. (The Zodiac told two of his victims that he had just recently killed a guard escaping from a prison in Montana, and that was a complete lie.)

I don;t know if it's a given that he has done this before or after.

When i sawthe re-enactment, i got the vibe that this guy might be an abusive husband type individual or someone who got laid off and wanted to strike back in some way. Just something about the way he was getting drunk just made me think this was his first act. He reminds me of being the same type of person as Jim Burnside.

Especially the way he was screaming "you'll never get away from me". it almost seemed that he was talking about someone else"

Maybe it's just the re-enactment. :(

Just something about the way he was getting drunk just made me think this was his first act. He reminds me of being the same type of person as Jim Burnside.

That's sort of the impression I got, too. Debbie did say he just kept drinking and drinking, like maybe he wanted to dull something. Many repeat offenders (especially ones who don't get caught for long periods of time) are quite poised. Remember how Jane's attacker in the CT River Valley Killer segment was reportedly quite calm, "as if it didn't bother him"? That guy I'm sure was a complete and total psychopath. Debbie's attacker seems far less organized.

Does anyone know where I can watch this episode? Is it on the forbidden site? Does anyone have it on DVD?

Just re-watched this episode. Can't believe there are still no updates. I was able to see some pics of 'Debbie' She looks good.

what was this guy's deal again?

what was this guy's deal again?

It seems he was just looking for a woman to assault and murder, unfortunately. I believe Debbie was making a bank deposit when the man encountered her. He ordered her to drive to a liquor store before they went anywhere and drank heavily throughout most of the drive from Winston-Salem to Fayetteville. Seems like he was trying to get up the gumption to actually commit the crimes by doing so.

I've always been interested in this for a couple reasons. I'm from Winston-Salem and spent the first 23 years of my life there. Something very similar also happened to my mother.

She was in a bank in Winston-Salem when it was robbed. The guy took her keys, stole her car, and later abandoned it in.. Fayetteville. I think she still has the Winston-Salem Journal newspaper article about the case so I'll have to ask her if the guy was ever caught or if only her car was recovered. I think this all occurred around the same time as the Debbie case. I've always wondered if maybe this was the same guy.

I've always been interested in this for a couple reasons. I'm from Winston-Salem and spent the first 23 years of my life there. Something very similar also happened to my mother.

She was in a bank in Winston-Salem when it was robbed. The guy took her keys, stole her car, and later abandoned it in.. Fayetteville. I think she still has the Winston-Salem Journal newspaper article about the case so I'll have to ask her if the guy was ever caught or if only her car was recovered. I think this all occurred around the same time as the Debbie case. I've always wondered if maybe this was the same guy.

VERY interesting. Please let us know what you find out on the article!

seriously, was this guy on drugs or something? That's almost how it came across.




The chase through the woods was like something out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That it happened in broad daylight added to the creepiness factor

I've always been interested in this for a couple reasons. I'm from Winston-Salem and spent the first 23 years of my life there. Something very similar also happened to my mother.

She was in a bank in Winston-Salem when it was robbed. The guy took her keys, stole her car, and later abandoned it in.. Fayetteville. I think she still has the Winston-Salem Journal newspaper article about the case so I'll have to ask her if the guy was ever caught or if only her car was recovered. I think this all occurred around the same time as the Debbie case. I've always wondered if maybe this was the same guy.
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope this case is solved one day. We've seen cold cases that we never thought would be solved happen so here is to this one being the next one!

I wonder if this can be solved

Omg that segment gives me the chills his voice all distorted and saying 'WHERE U GOING YOU'RE NOT GOING NO WHERE'

Composite sketch of the attacker:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/unsolvedmysteries/images/a/ac/Debby_suspect.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110915102638

Man I believe to be responsible:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewpicture.do?method=view&showDate=N&pictureType=I&offenderID=0074612

This guy, Ernest Ray Cherry, was convicted of abducting, raping, and attempting to murder a woman just two years after the attack on Debbie.

His NC DPS link can be viewed here. (http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0074612&searchLastName=ch&searchFirstName=e&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1)

Here's (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/woman-feared-dead-found-alive-in-woods/article_80f3b47a-63a4-554f-996c-2394f2fc76fd.html) an article about the case in which Ernest Cherry was convicted of.

This (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/officials-stymied-in-search-for-gunman/article_95c9aaa9-83cb-584e-b49a-b5a340c8c88b.html) article is about the attack on Debbie.

Here's a map (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dobbin+Holmes+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28312/Doc+Bennett+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28306/@35.0273368,-78.9035125,28854m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab725ebd27d197:0x589fd0a34e13c1ea!2m2!1d-78.8124454!2d35.0955989!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab123b3d9cb643:0x97b0d42cecdf1c7d!2m2!1d-78.8681821!2d34.9769405) link showing how close in proximity both Debbie and the other woman were found in.

All in all, I think I'm comfortable enough with thinking that Cherry is the most likely guilty party based off of the location, the MO, and the similarities to the sketch.

Composite sketch of the attacker:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/unsolvedmysteries/images/a/ac/Debby_suspect.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110915102638

Man I believe to be responsible:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewpicture.do?method=view&showDate=N&pictureType=I&offenderID=0074612

This guy, Ernest Ray Cherry, was convicted of abducting, raping, and attempting to murder a woman just two years after the attack on Debbie.

His NC DPS link can be viewed here. (http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0074612&searchLastName=ch&searchFirstName=e&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1)

Here's (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/woman-feared-dead-found-alive-in-woods/article_80f3b47a-63a4-554f-996c-2394f2fc76fd.html) an article about the case in which Ernest Cherry was convicted of.

This (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/officials-stymied-in-search-for-gunman/article_95c9aaa9-83cb-584e-b49a-b5a340c8c88b.html) article is about the attack on Debbie.

Here's a map (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dobbin+Holmes+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28312/Doc+Bennett+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28306/@35.0273368,-78.9035125,28854m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab725ebd27d197:0x589fd0a34e13c1ea!2m2!1d-78.8124454!2d35.0955989!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab123b3d9cb643:0x97b0d42cecdf1c7d!2m2!1d-78.8681821!2d34.9769405) link showing how close in proximity both Debbie and the other woman were found in.

All in all, I think I'm comfortable enough with thinking that Cherry is the most likely guilty party based off of the location, the MO, and the similarities to the sketch.

Nice sleuthing, friend! You may be onto something....

Composite sketch of the attacker:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/unsolvedmysteries/images/a/ac/Debby_suspect.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110915102638

Man I believe to be responsible:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewpicture.do?method=view&showDate=N&pictureType=I&offenderID=0074612

This guy, Ernest Ray Cherry, was convicted of abducting, raping, and attempting to murder a woman just two years after the attack on Debbie.

His NC DPS link can be viewed here. (http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0074612&searchLastName=ch&searchFirstName=e&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1)

Here's (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/woman-feared-dead-found-alive-in-woods/article_80f3b47a-63a4-554f-996c-2394f2fc76fd.html) an article about the case in which Ernest Cherry was convicted of.

This (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/officials-stymied-in-search-for-gunman/article_95c9aaa9-83cb-584e-b49a-b5a340c8c88b.html) article is about the attack on Debbie.

Here's a map (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dobbin+Holmes+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28312/Doc+Bennett+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28306/@35.0273368,-78.9035125,28854m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab725ebd27d197:0x589fd0a34e13c1ea!2m2!1d-78.8124454!2d35.0955989!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab123b3d9cb643:0x97b0d42cecdf1c7d!2m2!1d-78.8681821!2d34.9769405) link showing how close in proximity both Debbie and the other woman were found in.

All in all, I think I'm comfortable enough with thinking that Cherry is the most likely guilty party based off of the location, the MO, and the similarities to the sketch.
Interesting. Were you able to find anything to suggest authorities investigate this same idea -- that this man and the one who attacked "Debbie" are one and the same?

Interesting. Were you able to find anything to suggest authorities investigate this same idea -- that this man and the one who attacked "Debbie" are one and the same?

No, unfortunately.

There are scant details about the attack on which Cherry was convicted. They never specify what he used, if anything, to assault the woman and leave her for dead. That's the lone holdout in connecting the two cases, IMO. But then again, it was 2 years after "Debbie" was attacked, so perhaps Cherry was attempting to cover his tracks by not using a shotgun in the second attack?

And I also have no idea if "Debbie's" case is presently being investigated, or what the status of the case is.

ETA: Cherry viciously strangled the woman in the 1992 attack, but the details are scant as to how he kidnapped her.

Composite sketch of the attacker:

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/unsolvedmysteries/images/a/ac/Debby_suspect.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110915102638

Man I believe to be responsible:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewpicture.do?method=view&showDate=N&pictureType=I&offenderID=0074612

This guy, Ernest Ray Cherry, was convicted of abducting, raping, and attempting to murder a woman just two years after the attack on Debbie.

His NC DPS link can be viewed here. (http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=0074612&searchLastName=ch&searchFirstName=e&listurl=pagelistoffendersearchresults&listpage=1)

Here's (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/woman-feared-dead-found-alive-in-woods/article_80f3b47a-63a4-554f-996c-2394f2fc76fd.html) an article about the case in which Ernest Cherry was convicted of.

This (http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/officials-stymied-in-search-for-gunman/article_95c9aaa9-83cb-584e-b49a-b5a340c8c88b.html) article is about the attack on Debbie.

Here's a map (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dobbin+Holmes+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28312/Doc+Bennett+Rd,+Fayetteville,+NC+28306/@35.0273368,-78.9035125,28854m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab725ebd27d197:0x589fd0a34e13c1ea!2m2!1d-78.8124454!2d35.0955989!1m5!1m1!1s0x89ab123b3d9cb643:0x97b0d42cecdf1c7d!2m2!1d-78.8681821!2d34.9769405) link showing how close in proximity both Debbie and the other woman were found in.

All in all, I think I'm comfortable enough with thinking that Cherry is the most likely guilty party based off of the location, the MO, and the similarities to the sketch.

Wow, the similarities are striking. If Cherry was indeed the man who raped and shot "Debbie", then perhaps if she is still living, she might be able to identify him as her attacker. Has anyone called the Fayetteville or Winston-Salem police with this lead?

That is interesting. What also interests me is that they found a work jacket that they could use to tie him to the case? It stinks that the state trooper was so close to investigating the parked car.

I remember in the segment the man was driving and farina said the guy bragged about how he killed a guy in New York.

Omg that segment gives me the chills his voice all distorted and saying 'WHERE U GOING YOU'RE NOT GOING NO WHERE'

A terrifying segment. Simply terrifying.

Maybe I'm getting my segments mixed up, but didn't they disclose on the Debbie segment that they had the perp's DNA?

If Cherry is the guilty party, the system screwed 2 women.

-He was convicted and sentenced for an armed robbery to 14 years in prison in 1984.
-He was released on parole in 1988.
-On the 1992 attack, he was indicted for armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, attempted first degree murder, 2 counts of rape, and first degree kidnapping. I'm assuming he used some sort of weapon to abduct the woman, and then he tried to strangle her and left her dead in a wooded area while fleeing with her car.
-Cherry was stupid enough to use her stolen credit cards, as well as let his girlfriend drive around with the woman's car. This is how he was caught.

I wonder if after attacking "Debbie", Cherry got cocky and thought he could get away with another attack. Which is why he was stupid enough to steal her car and travel around with it. Both cases featured a man abducting a woman (presumably at gunpoint), driving her around, rape, attempted murder, stealing the car, and fleeing the area.

Cherry lived in Winston-Salem. "Debbie" was abducted roughly 15 minutes north-east from Winston-Salem, while making a withdrawal at a bank. The second woman lived in a town roughly 15 minutes northwest from Winston-Salem, and was abducted in roughly the same area where Cherry lived. Both women were driven nearly 2 hours (spots approximately 15 minutes away from one another) south before being assaulted and left for dead. The spots where the woman were left for dead was near Fayetteville.

It just seems too far a coincidence for this to have not been Cherry.

ETA: I cannot find anything with regards to what type of work Cherry was involved in, but if he worked on cars or at a gas station, I'd say that would seal the deal as even more proof that he's the one who attacked "Debbie".

Maybe I'm getting my segments mixed up, but didn't they disclose on the Debbie segment that they had the perp's DNA?

I don't believe they specifically referenced DNA, but IIRC, I do believe they mentioned that there was enough to physical evidence to make an arrest if they could identity who the perpetrator was.

But if they have DNA evidence which could conclusively link the crime to Ernest Cherry, then I hope they test him.

I submitted a tip to the UM website today. Didn't know anyone else to contact.

I submitted a tip to the UM website today. Didn't know anyone else to contact.

Maybe the county sheriff's office of the county that Debbie was in when she was attacked?

Or, as Robert Stack said, "your local law enforcement agency." :)

I submitted a tip to the UM website today. Didn't know anyone else to contact.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office (http://ccsonc.org/) in Fayetteville, NC? Just a thought?

When he made that stop at the liquor store, I would have ran for it. Screaming bloody murder. **** that. She may or may not have gotten stabbed or shot/shot at, but I would have taken my chances. Someone would have heard her and he may have gotten scared off.

Didn't someone find her on facebook? Email her, don't show her the photo first, no point in scaring her and bringing up bad memories, ask her if she wants to look at it.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office (http://ccsonc.org/) in Fayetteville, NC? Just a thought?

That's the problem here. I don't know which jurisdiction this case falls under. She was abducted in Winston-Salem, but was driven and attacked near Fayetteville. I have yet to find any article written after 1993 where the police were actively still looking for this guy.

That's the problem here. I don't know which jurisdiction this case falls under. She was abducted in Winston-Salem, but was driven and attacked near Fayetteville. I have yet to find any article written after 1993 where the police were actively still looking for this guy.

I see the issue. You could always call, but then risk being tossed around two different counties.

If they're familiar with the case, they should know what jurisdiction it's in....