There have been a few times over the years that I have seen a crime show about two young women who were abducted by a drunk, drugged up, crazy rapist. The girls survived. Can you help me figure out which case it was?

I think it happened in California. A man abducted a young black woman and a young hispanic woman. They were about high school age. IIRC the girls didn't know each other.

I think the man drove them around in a full size Bronco type vehicle. The girls were sexually assaulted. While he was driving and the girls were together in the back of the vehicle, the girls couldn't talk, so communicated by writing words of encouragement onto the palms of each others hands with their fingers. I think one girl either sang or kept thinking of the words to the song "don't rock the boat".

The assailant drove them into the desert where the girls expected to be murdered. They decided that they were going to have to kill him to escape and gave each other support and encouragement to be able to do something so drastic, knowing it was necessary to their survival.

IIRC, the assailant slept for a while and the girls formed their plan to stab him at that point.

He woke up and was outside the vehicle for some reason, bathroom break, something. The girls took the opportunity to lock him out of the car and try to drive away. Only then did they realize that he had taken a gun and the car keys with him so they had no means of escape.

The police eventually arrived and shot up the Bronco, trying to kill the rapist. IIRC, he eventually died. It wasn't until after the big gun battle that the cops realized he hadn't already murdered the girls and that they were still in the car ducking gunfire.

Both girls were rescued without any major injuries. They decided to go public, even though they were victims of a sexual assault. I think they were in therapy and were dealing with what happened as best they could. One of the girls may have gone on to be a cheer coach or softball coach, can't remember....

Does anyone remember this case? The name of the perp?

Thanks!

Yes, I remember it from one of the early true crime shows on Court TV. But I'm sorry, I don't remember the girl's or the perp's names. I think it took place in CA.

Thanks Killarney Rose. I'm glad someone else remembers it too.

Anyone else have any details on this case?

I do remember this case! I know I saw it on a true crime tv show once. Sadly, I can't remember what the show was, or anyone's name, but I do remember it happened in California.

Sounds like the abduction of Jacqueline Marris & Tamara Brooks by Roy Dean Ratliff.

Sounds like the abduction of Jacqueline Marris & Tamara Brooks by Roy Dean Ratliff.

Thanks so much! I'm going to look for that case and see if that's it, but I think it probably is. The names sound familiar.