This topic came to mind the other day. What people on UM have been incredibly lucky, as in dodging bullets (some literally) or just running into extremely good fortune? Here are my picks:

1) The lady in the Thrill Killer segment who bought a magazine and left the convenience store about one minute before the gunman arrived.

2) The man who talked his way out of getting killed by the I-70 killer.

3) The Thortons, who faced Dennis Depue and didn't get attacked despite him having a loaded gun.

Rosemary Bonilla and her missing daughter, Monica, who was recovered after some UM viewers mistook her for Nyleen Kay Marshall. Talk about a stroke of good fortune. I've always wondered if Monica and her mother ever would have been reunited if UM hadn't unintentionally solved their case.

Don Devereaux, who dodged a contract hit after the killer mistook Doug Johnston for him. The poor guy obviously felt awful about it, but going on national television to profile his story probably prevented any future attempts on his life.

The two hitchhikers who wound up hitching a ride with Lawrence Tutt after he murdered Bill Henderson. If they hadn't gotten weirded out and decided to bail on him at the truck stop, who knows what could have happened to them?

Gaye and Tina Frocklage (Phillip Fraser segment). Good thing Gaye recognized something wrong about the hitchhiker just by his appearance; and refused to let her daughter become another potential Highway of Tears victim. Same with Eddie and Pauline Olson, they only recognized how lucky they were to not have been harmed with their own gun collection only months later; after learning who it was they posed as Good Samaritans to.

Henry Rollins was very lucky to escape through the back door of his own house. The killers couldn't have been more than 15 feet away when they started shooting at him.

Colleen Ritter's friend who was spending the night with her when Rick Church stabbed the family. She was left untouched.

Although they were shot, three of the victims in the Las Cruses Bowling Alley massacre survived.

Although Stephanie Booker had her face sliced off from the propeller of another boat, Sabra Scott and Kim Colvin didn't have any injuries which still amazes me.

And probably the luckiest people ever featured on UM, the entire choir of the church in Beatrice, Nebraska who all had something happen that made them late, where they would have otherwise died in the explosion. Even the woman who lived across the street from the church was late. I always loved that story.

Nicole Laferte was fortunate to not be victimized by Donald Dagesse, the man who attacked and killed Doreen Picard and left her mother Susan Laferte in a coma, after she opened the door for him to their apartment.

Also, I am sure the magic rock family is still reaping the rewards of good karma some 25 years or so after finding its majesty out in the woods.

Same with Eddie and Pauline Olson, they only recognized how lucky they were to not have been harmed with their own gun collection only months later; after learning who it was they posed as Good Samaritans to.

YES. Didn't he also stay the night in a room with some of the family's firearms as well?

And probably the luckiest people ever featured on UM, the entire choir of the church in Beatrice, Nebraska who all had something happen that made them late, where they would have otherwise died in the explosion. Even the woman who lived across the street from the church was late. I always loved that story.

I, too, love the church story! Very bizarre how everyone he their reasons for not being on time.

I'd add to the list the people in the "lucky school" segment.

Also, am I dreaming, or was there a segment where a big bag of money showed up on someone's lawn or roof? They turned the money over to the authorities, and once the money was determined not to be dirty money, they were allowed to keep it. I'm pretty sure this was a segment?

[QUOTE=WishfulDreamer]This topic came to mind the other day. What people on UM have been incredibly lucky, as in dodging bullets (some literally) or just running into extremely good fortune? Here are my picks:



2) The man who talked his way out of getting killed by the I-70 killer.

QUOTE]

What did this guy say to the killer ? I have never heard the full details ..

I, too, love the church story! Very bizarre how everyone he their reasons for not being on time.

I'd add to the list the people in the "lucky school" segment.

Also, am I dreaming, or was there a segment where a big bag of money showed up on someone's lawn or roof? They turned the money over to the authorities, and once the money was determined not to be dirty money, they were allowed to keep it. I'm pretty sure this was a segment?

@flytrapp: A couple found $6500 in their backyard.

[QUOTE=WishfulDreamer]This topic came to mind the other day. What people on UM have been incredibly lucky, as in dodging bullets (some literally) or just running into extremely good fortune? Here are my picks:



2) The man who talked his way out of getting killed by the I-70 killer.

QUOTE]

What did this guy say to the killer ? I have never heard the full details ..
In the reenactment, the killer says, ''I want you to come into the back room with me'' (where he'd just shot the two employees) and the guy said, ''Hey man, I can't come in the back room with you. I didn't see nothing, I don't know what's going on here.'' And the killer let him leave! More than likely, he didn't want to fire off rounds in the front of the store and garner attention. If the guy had gone in the back room, he surely would have been killed.

More lucky people:
The woman who accepted a ride from the guy who more than likely was responsible for killing Alicia Showalter Reynolds and was able to jump from the car rather than him making her the next victim.

Adding to Colleen Ritter's friend, her brother's friend was also unharmed.

Nathan Neesmith, finally rescued at sea by a passing boat after four days without food and water.

YES. Didn't he also stay the night in a room with some of the family's firearms as well?
Yes! I find that really incredible that he didn't harm them or even try to steal the weapons. I'm guessing that they were spared because they were so nice and accomodating to him. Reminds me of another poster's story on here. Apparently he and his family gave a man at a campsite a ride and condiments for food and he was perfectly nice. The next day, he carjacked and murdered three people.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=280284&page=3
Post #44

In the Edward Harold Bell episode:

a) The two motorcycle cops, who are the beneficiaries of Bell's rifle jamming when he attempts to fire on them.
b) "Sue" who is able to throw him off balance and then able to grab a firearm and chase him out of the house.

And of course, the Wackers. All those years of harrassment by this unknown entity, and neither of them are ever seriously injured :) :crazy:

[QUOTE=DanCart]
In the reenactment, the killer says, ''I want you to come into the back room with me'' (where he'd just shot the two employees) and the guy said, ''Hey man, I can't come in the back room with you. I didn't see nothing, I don't know what's going on here.'' And the killer let him leave! More than likely, he didn't want to fire off rounds in the front of the store and garner attention. If the guy had gone in the back room, he surely would have been killed.


No kidding, this guy was SO lucky. I agree, had he gone into the store, he was finished for SURE!

I also think my girl Bonnie Wilder was quite lucky. Some people have gone to jail for 30 years for robbery, and Bonnie hasn't done any time associated with her crimes (well, apparently she did a bit of time for identity theft, but not for ripping off a bunch of stores which netted her almost a half a mill! Super lucky!)

Although they were shot, three of the victims in the Las Cruses Bowling Alley massacre survived.



I read an article that said that the youngest survivor was actually shot a total of five times AND the assailants set the desk in the office on fire! :eek: It's really a miracle that they survived.

my girl, Bonnie Wilder

:rotflmao:

Katrina, the friend of Michaela Joy Garecht. The abductor could have just as easily moved her scooter right next to his car.

The sister of Laura Burbank. On the day Laura was killed by David Harry Fisher, her sister was originally going to join her but got sick. So she stayed home and Laura went off by herself.

And this one is kind of a cheat since she wasn't featured in the segment but she is connected to the case. Sherry Eyerly was abducted in a botched kidnapping attempt while driving to deliver pizzas to a fake address. William Scott Smith eventually confessed that his target was actually a different girl who worked at that same Dominos Pizza. He was planning to abduct her and hold her for ransome, but the girl ended up not working that night. According to Smith, once he realized he had kidnapped the wrong girl, he strangled Sherry to death. I often wonder how that girl must have felt all these years later...knowing that a abduction and murder that has haunted that city for 30 years was actually intended for her! But her work schedule ended up sparing her life.

- "Shirley", the woman who witnessed and ran into Dana Satterfield's killer in front of the liquor store.
- Kurt Sova's dad, when he went into the basement of the house Kurt was last known to have been at.
- Duane Miller, who survived the Oklahoma City bombing. He was fortunate to not have been crushed in the collapsing building and was saved by 2 men.
- "Debbie", the NC woman raped and shot in the face with a shotgun. She survived despite being horribly disfigured.
- Gordon McAllister, who was shot but not gravely injured by the man who shot his wife and Brian Major.

There are so many, but above all, the people who were distracted long enough to avoid being blown up in their church.

- Gordon McAllister, who was shot but not gravely injured by the man who shot his wife and Brian Major.

Yeah, I think that if Brian Major hadn't driven into the rest area at that moment, the killer might not have left until he found Gord and finished him off.

Now that I think about it, Gord was probably not only heartbroken over the death of his wife, but likely felt awful that another innocent person had to die so that he could survive. He was lucky, but I'm sure the guilt was unbearable :( .

"-Kurt Sova's dad, when he went into the basement of the house Kurt was last known to have been at."


Do you mean lucky as in you think he could have been attacked by the people in that apartment?

I think he would have been "luckier" if he would have been able to find Kurt's body before it ended up in that ravine area. He probably could have gotten those people questioned and arrested if that had happened.

My thinking is that the two guys witnessed carrying someone to that site either dumped him there earlier that evening or possibly early in the next afternoon. If the latter was the case, Kurt's body was probably still at the duplex when his dad came over at 3 AM, they just moved it out of the basement and hid it somewhere else.

@ BeautyoftheDay. Thanks for refreshing me on the couple that found $6500! I wonder if they still have it? If they do, I'll call up the crash and dash robbers and we'll all split the money :)

@ WishfulDreamer. Glad you laughed @ "my girl Bonnie Wilder". I actually really like Bonnie, she's one of my fave UM characters.

I also agree with Nathan Neismith as being extremely lucky! He took a huge gamble trying to swim back to a sinking ship, and then spent all that time in that part that capsuled without water or food. He was badly sun burnt and he was out there for four days. He was lucky he was found when he was. I always really liked him, especially when he said he needed to survive so he could be there to take care of his wife and kids. What a likeable guy.

The cleaning supply lady who ran into the killer (can't remember the name of the victim, but she was murdered at a hair salon) was very lucky.

@ WishfulDreamer. Glad you laughed @ "my girl Bonnie Wilder". I actually really like Bonnie, she's one of my fave UM characters.


:lol: I don't condone stealing but let's just say I don't lose any sleep at night over the fact that she's never been caught. ;)

I'm going to have to say the woman who survived the attack by that crazy serial killer. Sorry, I've had a complete mental block and cannot remember her name. She was the pregnant woman who stopped to buy a can of drink in the middle of the night.

I'm going to have to say the woman who survived the attack by that crazy serial killer. Sorry, I've had a complete mental block and cannot remember her name. She was the pregnant woman who stopped to buy a can of drink in the middle of the night.

I'm pretty sure that's Jane Boroski....she was stabbed 27 times by the Connecticut River Killer and lived! Her baby was fine, too, if I recall. I agree, she was extremely lucky.

The cleaning supply lady who ran into the killer (can't remember the name of the victim, but she was murdered at a hair salon) was very lucky.

I think the victim was Dana Satterfield.

I'm pretty sure that's Jane Boroski....she was stabbed 27 times by the Connecticut River Killer and lived! Her baby was fine, too, if I recall. I agree, she was extremely lucky.

It's truly a miracle that Jane and her unborn child survived all those stab wounds. Unfortunately, the attack still had some permanent negative effects. Jane's daughter Jessica was born with low blood pressure and the attack is responsible for her having a mild form of cerebral palsy. When Jane was on Doctor Phil a couple years ago, she mentioned that every single health issue Jessica has today is because of the attack. And the mental struggles of her daughter are always a constant reminder of the attack.

Today, Jessica is 24 years old. There were some cute pictures of her and Jane online together a few years ago but they have since been removed.

* Officer Martin Ganz' nephew, who was with him on patrol when he was gunned down. The killer actually got out of the car and shot him multiple times while the nephew (who was only about 12) was in the police car. Thankfully, the killer either didn't see him or just decided not to shoot him.

* The little girl who was playing hide-n- seek with Punky Gustavson and despite having her eyes closed and counting, was not abducted.

*In the segment about the first female Secret Service agent to be killed in the line of duty, her partner was actually on the ground and shot with a shotgun in the head (thankfully it just grazed him) and survived. SO lucky.

* The woman who faced the killer of Roxanne Jeeves and her son and didn't let him use the telephone. He probably still had that gun on him and could have easily attacked her.

*In the Boston Rapist segment, there was the nurse at the beginning of the segment who was not attacked while the other nurse was.

I think the victim was Dana Satterfield.

Yep that was her. Thanks!

Frank Allen - Probably the best example ever of trusting your gut feeling. He dodged Joe Smith's attack with a hammer, running through a locked glass door to escape with his life. The only reason the confrontation happened was because Allen couldn't shake a nagging feeling that something was wrong and he had to investigate. Had he simply gone to sleep, Joe Smith would have bludgeoned him in his bed, just like he had to all the women in the house. And what would have happened to him had he not had a glass door?

Annette Burnside's co-worker - "He looked at me like he was about to enjoy a huge steak." The guy got blasted in the stomach with a shotgun and still somehow survived. I've never read about any major health issues he had to endure (although I'm sure there were some) and he appeared on UM to recount the story. I'm just amazed at how someone could survive that kind of attack.

The children of Janice Morris - Larry George shot everyone in that apartment except the two young children who were sitting several feet away on the couch watching in horror. They're lucky in the sense that they are alive but the long term effects of seeing something as horrifying as what they saw, I'm sure that never leaves you. Imagine being 5 years old and watching a psycho walk into your living room with a gun, shoot your mother, shoot your step-father and shoot the next door neighbor who was like a family member. Terrifying.

The woman walking down the street in the Jill Behrman segment who is nearly abducted, but manages to break away and run for help.

The little girl who confronted the Colorodo cop killers. They were still fully armed and could have harmed her if they had chosen to do so.

Carol, who survived being shot in the face. Of course what happened is awful, but it's really fortunate that she survived and without too much lasting damage. She probably wouldn't have if the truck driver hadn't seen her.

The guy who more than likely saw/interacted with the killers of Duane McCorkendale. Those junkies were desperate and if he'd gotten out of his truck or anything, he could have been done for.

The woman taken hostage by bank robbers. Not only did the robbers release her after she'd seen one of their face, but they left her totally unharmed. What a relief! Obviously you know she's going to make it because she was interviewed, but I still find it stunning they didn't harm her.

Just thought of a new one: In the case of Julie Cross, her partner was shot in the head with the gunman standing right over him. The bullet only grazed him and he was fine.

The aliens in the Allagash Abductions segment. One of the brothers wanted to throttle the first one that got near him.

The woman walking down the street in the Jill Behrman segment who is nearly abducted, but manages to break away and run for help.

The little girl who confronted the Colorodo cop killers. They were still fully armed and could have harmed her if they had chosen to do so.

Carol, who survived being shot in the face. Of course what happened is awful, but it's really fortunate that she survived and without too much lasting damage. She probably wouldn't have if the truck driver hadn't seen her.

The guy who more than likely saw/interacted with the killers of Duane McCorkendale. Those junkies were desperate and if he'd gotten out of his truck or anything, he could have been done for.

The woman taken hostage by bank robbers. Not only did the robbers release her after she'd seen one of their face, but they left her totally unharmed. What a relief! Obviously you know she's going to make it because she was interviewed, but I still find it stunning they didn't harm her.

Not to mention the bank manager who took the call from the 911 operator and convinced the robber that it was that it was the store by the bank so he had to leave and tell them everything was ok.

Just thought of a new one: In the case of Julie Cross, her partner was shot in the head with the gunman standing right over him. The bullet only grazed him and he was fine.

Yes! This happened to Doyle Wheeler as well, when those two individuals broke into his home and bound him while they ransacked the house.

Yes! This happened to Doyle Wheeler as well, when those two individuals broke into his home and bound him while they ransacked the house.
Definitely! If he hadn't snapped back, he probably wouldn't have made it. I feel silly because I posted the same thing twice, but oh well. I browse the forum even when sleepy. :crazy:

Another lucky person is the motorcycle cop who pursued Edward Harold Bell; if Bell's shotgun hadn't jammed, he could have been hit.

I know Joe Jones was a security guard and had a dog, but he's still lucky in the sense that he survived an encounter with a man who had just stabbed someone to death. The killer could have tried something, knowing Jones had seen his face.

Tommy Zaino and his date. The shooter could have selected them instead of the car behind them.

Cecilia Davis from the Son Of Sam case comes to mind too, considering she was right in front of Berkowitz when he blared the horn at her. That, and when she was later confronted by him too on the night of one of the murders, but thankfully wasn't harmed in anyway. I was surprised Tommy Zaino wasn't targeted either, considering him and his girlfriend were in the car right in front of the other victims that night, which easily could have been them, along with being a key witness in the case. You can also make a case for the boys who saw the Satantic cult doing the chants in the park in the second Son Of Sam segment, since they more than likely would have been done for, had if they been spotted.

I should also mention the woman in the Deborah Poe case, who was the one who saw, and spotted the mystery "Megadeth Guy"! Surely she could have easily had been in grave danger at that point, and was lucky nothing happened to her at all! Even if Megadeth had nothing to do with Poe's disappearance/murder, there's still a good chance he was up to something no good, and knew that woman saw and could identity him, if he was committing a crime then.

Just walked the Brian Folguth segment. The guy pumping gas while the attendant was murdered inside and getting away unscathed without even encountering the killer was incredibly lucky. If the gunman had gone any other way, he would have been in big trouble.

Pretty much all of the survivors of the Son of Sam shootings. Although I think the young man who was shot at with the final female victim was blinded. Nothing lucky about that. :(

Pretty much all of the survivors of the Son of Sam shootings. Although I think the young man who was shot at with the final female victim was blinded. Nothing lucky about that. :(
I think he was partially blinded (unable to see out of one of his eyes), but still, that's very sad.

Tommy Zaino and his date were the luckiest of all, witnesses who escaped unscathed.

I'd also like to add Megan Curl's friend/neighbor to the list. IIRC She came to the door to check on Megan and saw the face of her "Guest". Lucky he didn't go after her as a potential witness. Also, if his story is true, the janitor, I think it was, who more than likely got a good look at Su Ya Kim's killer in that alleyway. Additionally any potential witnesses who saw what really happened to Jeremy Bright.

Ah, forgot one...all of the people in Jack Brown's office, the day he was killed. The killers were unmasked. I'm surprised that they didn't go all out and just eliminate anyone who could identify them....

The brother of the guy that helped Julie escape Nelson DeCloud. I think he's lucky Nelson did not bash his head in.

-I agree with Kurt Sova's dad. He could have been shot for going there.
-The pregnant lady getting a Coke and took off too her friends house. He followed and she still managed to survive!
-The New Orleans serial killer tried to strangle a woman and all he did was damage her vocal cords. She was found in an area they dump trash..eerie, but she is okay.
-Just anyone who went snooping for answers and is still alive. like Don Kemp (is it?) whose mother went knocking on the trailer for answers about her son's death and the calls that came from his place.

The aliens in the Allagash Abductions segment. One of the brothers wanted to throttle the first one that got near him.
Nice

I agree Victoria. That was the Connecticut river valley killer? Her name Jane boroski survived a brutal attack and her baby wasn't harmed. Then that scary moment when she encounters him again driving.

The man at the tuxedo shop who was let go by the IH 70 killer.

Nice

I agree Victoria. That was the Connecticut river valley killer? Her name Jane boroski survived a brutal attack and her baby wasn't harmed. Then that scary moment when she encounters him again driving.


Jane Boroski's baby was born with health problems that may be attributable to the attack, but I'm not sure if this has been substantiated. Thankfully they both survived that night.

The brother of the guy that helped Julie escape Nelson DeCloud. I think he's lucky Nelson did not bash his head in.

I disagree. Nelson DeCloud was really only dangerous to his followers, who were nothing more than his slaves. His tactics and intimidation did NOT work on people in the outside world who had a much clearer sense of reality. Tim Santi was not impressed nor intimidated by Nelson when he met him on the compound. He barely acknowledged him, which really ticked off DeCloud.

DeCloud had already broken into Tim's brother's house, which itself was against the law. If Nelson bashes the guy's head in, he's in jail for assault AND breaking and entering, on top of the charges Julie would sure bring on him. He absolutely HAD to get Julie back in his possession that night otherwise he'd know he'd be forced to go on the ruN.

Besides, if the humorous reenactment was any indication, Nelson ran away like a scared little wimp when the brother pulled out his baseball bat anyway.

Jane Boroski's baby was born with health problems that may be attributable to the attack, but I'm not sure if this has been substantiated. Thankfully they both survived that night.
Ouch I did not know that. :(

Jane Boroski's baby was born with health problems that may be attributable to the attack, but I'm not sure if this has been substantiated. Thankfully they both survived that night.

When she appeared on Doctor Phil a couple years ago, Jane tearfully stated that every health problem her daughter has today is because of the attack. But she didn't really go into detail about what specifically those issues were.

On the 'Serial Killers Among Us' special on E, she said her daughter was born a "blue baby," and now lives with a mild form of cerebral palsy.

[QUOTE=WishfulDreamer][QUOTE=DanCart]
In the reenactment, the killer says, ''I want you to come into the back room with me'' (where he'd just shot the two employees) and the guy said, ''Hey man, I can't come in the back room with you. I didn't see nothing, I don't know what's going on here.'' And the killer let him leave! More than likely, he didn't want to fire off rounds in the front of the store and garner attention. If the guy had gone in the back room, he surely would have been killed.


I always thought this was racism working for the guy. That because the guy was black when he was like "I'm not going to say anything etc..." The guy believed him.

I disagree. Nelson DeCloud was really only dangerous to his followers, who were nothing more than his slaves. His tactics and intimidation did NOT work on people in the outside world who had a much clearer sense of reality. Tim Santi was not impressed nor intimidated by Nelson when he met him on the compound. He barely acknowledged him, which really ticked off DeCloud.

DeCloud had already broken into Tim's brother's house, which itself was against the law. If Nelson bashes the guy's head in, he's in jail for assault AND breaking and entering, on top of the charges Julie would sure bring on him. He absolutely HAD to get Julie back in his possession that night otherwise he'd know he'd be forced to go on the ruN.

Besides, if the humorous reenactment was any indication, Nelson ran away like a scared little wimp when the brother pulled out his baseball bat anyway.

Seconded!

"Who are you guys?"
"We're the, uhhh, we're the Police! We're looking for Tim" :rolleyes: