Woman who Saw Reflection in Balloon

[Opal]

I'm so sorry if there's a recent thread discussing this case, but it's been so long since I've seen the segment that I can't recall the whole story.

Anyway.....

I think this happened somewhere in the South. A woman walks to her car in a parking lot and as she unlocking the door, a man pops up with a gun and forces her to drive. They end up in a wooded area near the highway and he rapes her; he then shoots her in the face (or somewhere on the head) and flees. She miraculously survives, and only sees how bad she looks by seeing her reflection in a metallic-colored "Get Well" balloon in her hospital room.

Does this ring any bells?

Was that monster ever caught?

Thank You!!

[browneyes106]

I kind of remember this story.

[Schmoopie]

Wow, that's awful! Imagine the shock of seeing yourself after such an ordeal! And what a way to find out! I hope that jackass was caught, but sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if he is still on the streets.

Andrea

[Mysteryphile]

Originally Posted by Opal

I'm so sorry if there's a recent thread discussing this case, but it's been so long since I've seen the segment that I can't recall the whole story.

Anyway.....

I think this happened somewhere in the South. A woman walks to her car in a parking lot and as she unlocking the door, a man pops up with a gun and forces her to drive. They end up in a wooded area near the highway and he rapes her; he then shoots her in the face (or somewhere on the head) and flees. She miraculously survives, and only sees how bad she looks by seeing her reflection in a metallic-colored "Get Well" balloon in her hospital room.

Does this ring any bells?

Was that monster ever caught?

Thank You!!

I think this was the case of a woman they called "Debbie." The police saw Debbie walking towards them covered with blood. They called ambulance and transported her to the hospital. She had been shot once in the face with a double barrel shotgun that shattered the left side of her jaw. Her injuries were massive and for awhile she couldn't speak. (she can now) The police say it was the most severe injury they had ever seen in someone that survived.

She had been at the bank when a black man came up to the car, forcing her to drive to a liquor store. He went inside and said if she tried to flee he would kill everyone inside the store. He told her he had already killed a man in New York, so of course she was terrified for her life. He finally forced her to pull over onto the side of the road. She takes off running into the woods, fleeing for her life. He got a hold of her again, beat her, sexually assaulted her then shot her.

I don't think they ever caught this guy.

BTW I mention his race because 1. It was mentioned on the Unsolved Mysteries segment and 2. So you can picture more accurately what happened.

[Jared Jammer]

I believe it happened in North Carolina. The gunman blew her lower jaw off. Not to be cold hearted, but after watching the episode and hearing "Debbie's" voice, I think she could have a future in doing cartoon voice-overs.

[mattc]

Yeah, that one happened in NC, where I used to live, outside of Greensboro NC. She was abducted outside of a bank in broad daylight. I always remembered this as being particularly brutal, and I have NO idea how terrifying this must have been for "Debbie." I remember watching this and thinking how horrifying, and it was funny how they made a point of not trying to play to racist tendencies. Can you imagine: The guy made her stop at a liquor store and she remained in the car cause he said he would kill everybody. Directly b/c of that episode, I always have a set of spare keys hidden in my car in case... I know that's paranoia, but... And then she's forced to drive around for HOURS while he gets drunk and threatens her. I just know she must be a very brave woman! I hope she's doing okay.

Ironically, the highway she was forced to drive on (I-40) was the same highway on which the group of African-American college students were driving when they were driven off the rode by a "redneck from Georgia," as one of the witnesses called him. I really really hope they solve both of these cases.

[MegtheEgg86]

Originally Posted by mattc

Ironically, the highway she was forced to drive on (I-40) was the same highway on which the group of African-American college students were driving when they were driven off the rode by a "redneck from Georgia," as one of the witnesses called him. I really really hope they solve both of these cases.

I-40 is the busiest interstate in the nation, so there's always crime abound in some capacity. I use it everyday to get to work, as it runs right through Knoxville. Naturally, my ears always perked up a little whenever I saw any UM cases involving it, and there's been a few:

-"Debbie", as you mentioned
-The NC hit-and-run, as you also mentioned
-Jay Durham (Run off the road by a truck driver a few miles from the Russellville, AR exit on I-40)
-Rhonda Hinson (discovered a few hundred feet from the I-40 entrance ramp on Mineral Springs Mountain Road in Valdese, NC)
-Blair Adams (took I-40 into Knoxville, TN and was discovered dead in a parking lot a few hundred feet away from it)

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Originally Posted by Jared Jammer

I believe it happened in North Carolina. The gunman blew her lower jaw off. Not to be cold hearted, but after watching the episode and hearing "Debbie's" voice, I think she could have a future in doing cartoon voice-overs.

I also believe it was someplace in the South. Are you sure her voice wasn't disguised?