GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The sole survivor of the notorious “Railroad Killer” will be in West Michigan the weekend of April 20 to share her story as we continue to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“It’s just amazing how easily things can change," Holly K. Dunn told 13 ON YOUR SIDE.
It was 1997, just days after the start of her junior year at the University of Kentucky.
“It was just such a normal day and that’s what is amazing is that, you know, I was excited because I was going on a date with my boyfriend, and it was just such a wonderful, exciting time,” said Dunn.
That date would turn deadly when the man we now know as the “Railroad Killer” showed up.
“He actually killed my boyfriend, and he raped me and stabbed me and left me for dead," Dunn remembered.
She said she’s been healing ever since and that there’s so much more to the story than just the trauma.
“Then there’s all this happiness and all this love of life and being able to go on with your life and live a happy life and wake up every day and find a reason to smile and that’s surviving, to me,” said Dunn.
You will see in the video, she’s seen smiling in pictures captured at the scene of the crime several years later.
Karalee Bradshaw is the executive director of Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters (COVE). She said she was "so impressed by Holly’s resiliency and ability to get through some really horrific experiences.”
The group is hosting two events: Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, where Dunn will share her story.
“Even if it’s not sexual assault. If it’s any kind of trauma that occurs, if you can find a reason to get that story outside of you whether it’s talking about it to somebody or writing a song, doing art – that story no longer has control of over you when you get it outside of you," Dunn said.
Today, she’s a wife and mother.
“They are the light of my life. I have an amazing husband. I have a really amazing life right now," she said.
“Have fun in life. That’s the main thing. I want to enjoy every single day and appreciate my second chance at life and I try to do that every day.”
Nearly three years after Dunn was attacked, the “Railroad Killer” was caught in Texas and linked to eight murders. He was sentenced to death in 2000 and executed six years later.
Dunn will be speaking at the Vogue Theater in Manistee, Friday night at 6, and at the Ludington Area Center Saturday at noon. You will find details about these events on the Cove Facebook page.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.