Lessons from
TRUE CRIMES

It’s better to know lessons from true crimes and not need them, than to need them and not know.

Two inseparable teenage sisters were walking along a country road in 1995 just outside the sleepy little town of Fenton, MI when a car passed them, then pulled over just ahead. A man got out and raised the hood, seemingly having car trouble. As the girls came near, he grabbed one and shoved her into the backseat. The other girl could’ve run away but didn't want to abandon her sister – especially when he promised he wouldn't hurt them if she'd get in the backseat too. Believing him, she got in with her sister and he soon killed them both. His arrest and confession revealed the foul details.

If only those girls had known about the Hostage/Slave lessons from true crimes in Survival Options - Hostage Taking. They'd have known that he was using the first girl as a hostage to make the second girl his slave. They'd have known that if the second girl obeyed him – by believing the lie they desperately wanted to believe – she'd likely doom them both.

They'd have known that if the second girl had instead disobeyed him and run away for help, the monster's plan would crumble, that police would soon be mobilized, and that she could describe both him and his car. Thus, he'd likely have quickly released the first girl to expedite his flight – and face, if caught, lesser criminal charges. At least, one girl would have survived.

But whether one or both were in his backseat, lessons from true crimes in Survival Options - Kidnap Survival would've taught them how to escape a car abduction: to immediately disrupt the car’s operation before you’re taken to a second crime scene.

Why do Doors have Locks?

Eustace Newman Willenberg, 72, was watching television in his home when he was repeatedly stabbed to death. Police said it appeared the attacker surprised Mr Willenberg, entering by a back door often left unlocked.
Excerpted from The Melbourne Herald Sun (Australia) – 10 June 2005

Unfortunately, Mr Willenberg had never learned lessons from true crimes about the dangers of unlocked doors in Home Security - Walk-In. Roughly half of all home invasions are through unlocked doors.

What Was She Waiting For?

Three mistakes: A teenager in Utah stopped her car near a police blockade as an agitated man suddenly ran toward her. She assumed the police were chasing the man, but instead of driving off, she just waited as the fugitive jumped into her unlocked car. The fugitive ordered her to drive, later having her stop where he demanded the teen wait for him while he left to visit someone. Amazingly, she obediently waited for him to return! The fugitive eventually got out of the car and walked away, leaving her unharmed – lucky that he didn’t kill her, the only witness. She had never had the chance to learn the lessons from true crimes in Avoiding Carjacking.

You + Your Car = Double Prize for a Predator

He was there. Just inches from her face. Glaring. With a knife. The 16-year-old girl had noticed no one seconds earlier as she climbed into her car to drive to work. The driveway had been empty. ... She’d thrown her purse on the passenger’s seat, and turned to close the driver’s door behind her. That’s when she saw him. “Move over,” he sneered, “or I’ll kill you.” At that moment, she steeled herself: “I said, ‘I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t kill me.’” She choked back panic as Jeremy Quinn, Jr., forced her under the dashboard and jumped in the driver’s seat. ... Driving to a wooded area, he raped her repeatedly. She said, “I didn’t know if I was going to live.”
Excerpted from The Toledo Blade – 20 November 2005

Two lessons from true crimes: She was very lucky the rapist didn’t kill his only witness. Though she did survive, she hadn’t known that being taken to a second crime greatly lowers her survival odds.

Carjacking/kidnappings are very attractive to predators because they get both a car and a victim. That’s why you’re an attractive target whenever you’re in or near your car.

Always keep pepper spray and a noisemaker at the ready while going to and from your car – whether at home, in a parking lot, or anywhere. See Pepper Spray & Personal Security Alarm (a.k.a. noisemaker or screamer). Simply make it an automatic habit. Keep them on your key-chain and they’ll always be in-hand when you’re near your car. And keep a second pepper spray unit readily available inside your car (when your first unit is with your key in the ignition). Also see Parking Lot Safety.

Carrying pepper spray – shoulder-high and visible – may well have deterred that girl’s attacker. Or she could have sprayed him when he appeared – while blaring her car’s horn. Most predators will not continue a crime when witnesses may be alerted, and will simply flee.

Will a gunman shoot you in a populated area where he dreads witnesses? Will you force him to shoot if you resist or run away? There's a 12 per cent chance he'll shoot at you, a 6 per cent chance of actually hitting you, and a 3 per cent chance it'll be fatal. But think about it, if he is willing to shoot you there, he’s very likely willing to do worse at a second crime scene where you're fully at his mercy. Those are your odds – use your intuition to decide whether to obey or get away. See the lessons from true crimes in Survival Options - Kidnapping Escape.

OR, once the girl was kidnapped, she could’ve caused the car to crash long before he got her to a secluded place where she was fully at his mercy. From the car's floor, she's perfectly positioned to deliver Defensive Ground Kicks as described in Fighting Options - Strategies. Also see the lessons from true crimes in Survival Options - Kidnap Survival.

Don’t Chase Danger

The victim was riding her bicycle when a 14-year-old boy rode up behind her and stole a bag from her carrier rack. The victim pursued him. After catching up with the thief, the woman was punched in the face and violently raped.
Excerpted from The Australian – 23 August 2006

Unfortunately, the victim didn’t know that, in the heat of the moment, you might reflexively – and foolishly – fight for what is rightfully yours. Decide now to give up your valuables to avoid violence, then – before the crime gets worse – instantly flee to safety while yelling for the police. Fight, maybe, only to avoid rape, assault, or abduction. See the lessons from true crimes in Victim’s Options - Overview.

Give It Up and Let Him Go

Brenda Turner had just unlocked her car parked outside a store. A gunman grabbed her arm and demanded her purse. They struggled and Turner was knocked to the ground. “Matt Casias bolted out the front door of the store and slammed the young man against a car,” a witness said. “The next thing I heard was ‘POW!’ He stood up and came back in holding his chest. My first thought was, ‘Just don’t let it be close to the heart.’” ... “He is a Good Samaritan,” the police chief said. But the chief was hesitant to encourage similar actions by others. “Matt made a personal decision to get involved. We recommend that people be good witnesses. Any time you intervene in a violent crime, it can be dangerous.”
Excerpted from The Rocky Mountain News – 30 October 2004

Ms Turner risked a serious head injury by being knocked to the ground. Had she learned lessons from true crimes in Purse Snatching (Outdoor Safety - Facing Danger), she’d have known to simply give up her purse.

Her valiant rescuer almost died, too. But had he learned the lessons from true crimes in Outdoor Safety - Rescuing a Victim Safely, he’d have known of a less risky and possibly more effective strategy in a populated area: make lots of noise from a safe distance, and yell repeatedly for someone to call the cops while pointing at the crime scene. Most criminals simply flee such a situation.

Don’t Force Him to Kill You

A burglar confessed to a long list of past burglaries. In one, he was burgling a residence he’d thought was unoccupied when he encountered a woman. After subduing and binding her, he continued the burglary. When a second woman came home he did the same to her. But she was outraged, swearing she’d never forget his face and threatening to hunt him down and get her revenge. He told police, “So I had to kill them both.” It was the only time he’d been violent. – so wrote Dr. Daniel Goleman in his book, “Emotional Intelligence.”

True crime stories teach you how to save your life.

Related Pages:
Best Pepper Spray | Personal Security Alarm | Survival Options - Hostage Taking | Survival Options - Kidnap Survival | Security Products - Personal Devices | Outdoor Safety - Rescuing | Outdoor Safety - Facing Danger

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