Cold Case Files — Episode Summary

Episode: I SURVIVED: I Could See The Hatred In His Eyes
Host: Paula Barros (A&E / PodcastOne)
Date: January 10, 2026

Overview

In this episode of Cold Case Files, three survivors recount their harrowing experiences with violence and near death, and share how they managed to endure. The first story follows Donna, a mother in Bakersfield, California, who survives a kidnapping, rape, and threats against her family. Next, Mike, a pilot, tells his incredible tale of surviving a plane crash and 18 hours adrift in Lake Huron. Finally, Sheila relives the trauma of her abusive marriage, a brutal stabbing, and the moment she chose to “play dead” to survive. Throughout, the episode shines a light on the remarkable resilience of ordinary people facing unimaginable danger.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Donna’s Story: Surviving Kidnapping and Assault

(00:07 — 12:19)

• Setting: January 2009, Bakersfield, California. Donna is a stay-at-home mom preparing for her baby daughter's first birthday.

• The Attack:

  • Donna is approached at gunpoint in a parking lot by a man in a trench coat, who threatens her and her baby.
  • Forced to withdraw $500 from an ATM and drive to a secluded area, where she is sexually assaulted in her car, in a school parking lot (03:15–06:27).
  • The attacker threatens her family if she ever goes to the police:

    “If you ever tell anybody, I will know it...I’ll attack your husband and I’ll kill him before I come in the house and make you watch me kill your daughters and I’ll rape you all night long.” — Donna (06:31)

• Reporting & Aftermath:

  • Donna escapes and calls the police (08:18).
  • Police find a DNA match and arrest the attacker within a month, coinciding with her daughter’s birthday (08:33).
  • The attacker attempts to order a “hit” on Donna and her husband from jail while awaiting trial (09:00).
  • Trial experience is traumatic; defense tries to blame her and suggest a drug deal gone wrong (09:30–10:27).

• Justice and Reflection:

  • Attacker Anthony Ray Graham Jr. receives 50 years to life + 21 years (10:55).
  • Donna emphasizes the importance of reporting sexual assault and trusting the justice system:

    “Law enforcement can be trusted. Victim service agencies can be trusted, and our judicial system works. It’s hard to go through it, but as a victim surviving rape, you’ve already been through the hardest.” — Donna (11:07)

Mike’s Story: Plane Crash Survival

(13:25 — 24:20)

• Setting: July 2011, Lake Huron, Michigan.

• The Crash:

  • Mike, an experienced pilot, is flying solo to visit family. His plane suffers engine problems over Lake Huron (13:48–15:03).
  • Makes a distress call before crash-landing in the lake (15:07).
  • Survives the impact and begins the fight to stay alive in rough waters.

• Struggle for Survival:

  • Faces massive waves, struggles to stay afloat, improvises with his clothing for flotation, and nearly drowns (16:20–18:00).
  • Swims for hours, fights the current, keeps moving toward shore, and uses the reflection from a credit card to try attracting attention (18:40–20:39).
  • His priorities shift as he contemplates his family and what truly matters:

    “If I get through this, I’m going to make family more priority, hopefully work less.” — Mike (19:28)

• Rescue:

  • After 18 hours in the water and several missed opportunities, he is finally spotted and rescued by a passing boat (20:34–22:46).
  • Hospitalized for muscle damage due to intense exertion (22:53).
  • Cause of crash identified as pilot error—failure to use carburetor heater (23:32–23:47).

• Aftermath:

  • Mike maintains a positive outlook and chooses not to buy another plane:

    “I survived this whole ordeal just staying focused on the positive and realizing that I have a lot to go home to.” — Mike (23:53)

Sheila’s Story: Domestic Abuse and Survival

(26:14 — 37:53)

• Setting: October 1985, Kettering, Ohio.

• Relationship Declines:

  • Sheila, 17, marries 23-year-old Tim. Initial happiness gives way to controlling behavior and violence after the wedding (26:14–26:54).
  • First physical attack rationalized as her fault (26:54–27:23).

• The Night of the Attack:

  • Sheila finds strangers partying with her husband, leading to a violent confrontation and rape by another man as her husband assists (27:28–29:14).

  • Realizes her husband’s hatred and capacity for violence:

    “I could see into my husband’s eyes, and I could see the hatred in his eyes, and I had no clue where it was coming from. I didn’t recognize him at that point...That scared me, because when a husband hates you, they are capable of doing anything to you.” — Sheila (28:10)

  • Knows her life is in danger and tries to escape (29:29–30:03).

  • The men stab her 17 times; Sheila plays dead to survive after hearing their plan to dispose of her body (30:03–33:22).

    “Something told me, if you play dead…they’ll think you’re dead and they’ll leave you alone. And that’s what I did.” — Sheila (31:24)

• Escape and Survival:

  • Crawls away injured and seeks help from a neighbor (33:26–35:31).
  • Mother initially doesn’t recognize her due to the severity of facial injuries (35:34–36:16).
  • Husband charged and sentenced to 20-50 years; his accomplice receives 7-25 years.
  • Sheila credits determination and “a guardian angel” for her survival.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Donna’s Story

• On surviving and advocacy:

  “I survived because I was able to stay calm and not focus on what was happening to me, but focus on getting my baby home alive.” — Donna (11:07)

• On the need to speak out:

  “…it is important that we give a voice to this crime and we start talking about it and getting real about it so that we can end it.” — Donna (11:37)

Mike’s Story

• On the will to live:

  “I remember the first star coming out. And I made a wish on that star. And my wish was, just let me get home to see everybody one more time. I’m not ready to die yet.” — Mike (19:48)

• On priorities:

  “When you’re laying there in the water, it’s dark…your priorities change...If I get through this, I’m going to make family more priority, hopefully work less.” — Mike (19:28)

Sheila’s Story

• On the moment of terror:

  “I could see into my husband’s eyes, and I could see the hatred in his eyes...It wasn’t my husband anymore. Something had took him over and made him so angry.” — Sheila (28:10)

• On survival instinct:

  “I think I survived pure will, determination, and my guardian angel.” — Sheila (37:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Donna’s Story:

  • Attack & Kidnapping: 00:07–06:27
  • Aftermath, Arrest & Trial: 08:18–11:07
  • Reflections: 11:07–12:19

• Mike’s Story:

  • Flight & Crash: 13:25–15:07
  • Ordeal in Water: 16:20–20:34
  • Rescue: 22:46–23:53
  • Aftermath: 23:53–24:20

• Sheila’s Story:

  • Marriage & Abuse: 26:14–27:23
  • The Assault: 27:28–33:22
  • Escape & Hospital: 33:22–36:16
  • Court & Reflections: 36:27–37:53

Tone and Style

The episode is delivered in a frank, emotive, and respectful manner. Survivors tell their stories with raw honesty, sometimes recounting graphic details to convey the depth of their experiences. The narration supports and contextualizes each account without sensationalizing, allowing the courage and insight of each survivor to take center stage.

Summary

This episode of Cold Case Files is a powerful testament to human resilience. Each survivor’s account underscores the split-second decisions and mental strength required to endure the unimaginable. The episode also addresses both the importance and the challenges of seeking justice and healing after trauma. For listeners, the message is clear: survival is possible, and support is available.