Cold Case Files – “I SURVIVED: I Was Bleeding Like Water Running Out Of My Chest”

Date: March 14, 2026
Host: A&E / PodcastOne
Narrator: Marisa Pinson

Episode Overview

This emotionally intense episode of Cold Case Files features three remarkable survival stories:

• Debbie, a woman who endures a harrowing abduction and rape in 1989, and whose case remains unsolved for years before a forensic breakthrough;
• Ray, a veteran pilot who survives an engine-out ditching in the Pacific Ocean;
• Jasmine, the titular survivor who lives through a brutal shooting spree by her friend’s ex-boyfriend, despite being shot six times and “bleeding like water running out of her chest.”

The episode delves into themes of trauma, resilience, the power of intuition and faith, and the long arc of justice. Survivor voices propel the narrative, making for a compelling and raw listening experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debbie’s Survival and Pursuit of Justice (Williamsburg, VA – March 1989)

[01:07 – 15:33]

• Ordinary Morning Turns Nightmare

  • Debbie describes a typical busy morning before her husband—a police officer—came home exhausted from a night shift.
  • She spots a suspicious man in her neighbor's backyard but dismisses it as a landscaper due to prior notice from her neighbor.
  • While baking, she is suddenly assaulted in her kitchen by the same man.

• The Assault & Kidnapping

  • [03:19] The attacker threatens Debbie with a bat and claims to have a gun.
  • He forces her through the garage and into nearby woods, continually threatening her and her family’s lives.
  • Debbie displays remarkable restraint, recalling her husband's police advice: "If they take you from the home, you don't come back alive."
  • She attempts escape but is recaptured and violently threatened.

• The Rape & Emotional Survival

  • The attacker claims others will arrive, blindfolds her, and rapes her in the woods.
  • Debbie copes by praying aloud:

    “The more I prayed, the angrier he got... Something in me just kept saying, keep saying it. And so I did, over and over again.” (Debbie, [06:53])

  • The man eventually helps her redress and confusingly displays moments of compassion.

• Negotiating for Survival

  • She offers him the $50 in their house, lying about her husband being home (fearing for his safety), only to accidentally reveal the truth.
  • The attacker warns her not to tell anyone, referencing a supposed prior victim, and lets her go, echoing her mention of Christian radio:

    "You keep listening to that Christian radio." (Attacker, [10:05 – 11:24]) "Lock your doors." (Attacker, [11:24])

• Aftermath & Impact of DNA

  • [13:41] Debbie’s case remains unsolved for six years due to a DNA testing backlog.
  • When finally matched, her attacker, Norman Jimerson, is already imprisoned for similar crimes.
  • [14:36] Debbie attributes her survival to a spiritual connection that the rapist recalled ("Christian radio," prayer, and his grandmother).

• Restoration & Advocacy

  • Debbie, finding justice, seeks to impart “that same sense of peace to other rape victims.”

2. Ray’s Ordeal: Ditching at Sea (Pacific Ocean – November 1999)

[17:58 – 27:37]

• Ferry Flight Gone Wrong

  • Ray, an experienced ferry pilot, is tasked with flying a single-engine plane from the US to Australia.
  • As the plane crosses the Pacific, co-pilot Shane notices falling oil pressure.

    “When the oil pressure drops...in the long term, the engine is going to seize, fail. Maybe it was only the gauge, but maybe not.” (Ray, [18:31])

• Critical Decisions & Engine Failure

  • Ray opts to proceed toward Hawaii, reasoning it’s better to ditch in warmer waters closer to rescue.
  • Two hours out, the engine explodes; electrical systems fail. They are left without instruments, over open water in darkness.

• A Miraculous Ditching and a Harrowing Wait

  • Ray glides the powerless aircraft through clouds, using only a non-electric descent indicator.

    "It is impossible for any human being to maintain direction or keep the airplane upright if they do not have instruments..." (Ray, [21:17])

  • They land successfully and briefly dry, but the life raft doesn’t work, and the plane sinks.

• Survival in the Water

  • Continuous black waves batter Ray and Shane as they cling to life jackets. Ray discards his trousers with thousands of dollars in pockets to avoid drowning:

    “Money is not everything and my life was more valued...I had to prevent myself from drowning.” (Ray, [23:00])

  • The Coast Guard circles overhead but cannot see them in the dark.

• Rescue

  • Hours later, the Coast Guard spots them with night vision but can't drop rafts in darkness. Instead, they light the water around the pilots.
  • A Croatian ship, redirected by the Coast Guard, rescues the men after one final struggle in the ocean.

• Reflection on Survival

  • Ray credits his survival to flight training and Coast Guard efforts:

    “It is without doubt the best rescue service in the world.” (Ray, [27:37])

3. Jasmine’s Story: Surviving a Brutal Shooting (Indianapolis, IN – June 2002)

[30:23 – 39:32]

• Background – Tense Relationships and Early Warning Signs

  • Jasmine lives with her high school friend Miranda, who shares custody of her kids with their father, Ron.
  • Miranda’s refusal to join Ron at a family function angers him; later, he makes ominous threats over the phone.

• Escalation to Violence

  • When Ron arrives at Miranda’s apartment, she urges everyone to hide and not call the police for fear of jeopardizing her custody.
  • Increasingly aggressive, Ron kicks in the locked door, displaying visible rage.

    “He looked like a monster. Like rage had just taken over him.” (Jasmine, [32:10])

• Mass Shooting

  • Ron immediately kills Fred (a friend), shoots Kevin twice, and then turns the gun (a hollow point) on Jasmine.

  • “He was unloading. He shot at me 11 times. I was struck a total of six times. I remember looking down and seeing these big open areas, and I was bleeding like water running out of my chest.” (Jasmine, [33:38])

  • Miranda flees; Ron follows and kills her.

• Desperate Survival

  • Jasmine plays dead, presses her wounds, and waits for Ron to leave before calling 911.
  • Overwhelmed with fear and blood loss, she prays and sings church songs to stay conscious:

    “I kept singing every church song I could think of... if I kept myself calm and keep myself awake maybe I’ll be okay.” (Jasmine, [37:58])

• Aftermath

  • Police arrive. Jasmine, unable to voice Ron’s name, identifies him as “the kid’s father.”

  • She survives, although severely wounded.

  • Ron Covington Jr. turns himself in after six days; he is convicted and sentenced to multiple life terms plus 55 years.

  • Jasmine expresses forgiveness:

    “I wasn’t mad at him. I forgave him. I still, to this day, don’t have any bad feelings towards him at all. I don’t understand why, but I don’t hate him.” (Jasmine, [39:32])

  • Jasmine credits Miranda’s actions for her own survival and emotionally honors her friend’s sacrifice.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Debbie on Her Faith:

  “I just blurted out I was listening to Christian radio, and I’ve got two children. Don’t hurt me... He said, well, I’m going to let you go as soon as we get around this fence, as soon as we get around the corner.” (Debbie, [05:35])

• Ray on His Priorities:

  “Money is not everything and my life was more valued...I had to prevent myself from drowning.” (Ray, [23:00])

• Jasmine’s Unbelievable Calm Under Fire:

  “He was unloading. He shot at me 11 times. I was struck a total of six times. I remember looking down and seeing these big open areas, and I was bleeding like water running out of my chest.” (Jasmine, [33:38])

• Jasmine on Facing Her Attacker:

  “I wasn’t mad at him. I forgave him. I still, to this day, don’t have any bad feelings towards him at all. I don’t understand why, but I don’t hate him.” (Jasmine, [39:32])

• Debbie After Justice:

  “Once they had identified my attacker, I realized this flood of peace that had come over me and I wanted to find a way to offer that same sense of justice, that same sense of peace to other rape victims.” (Debbie, [14:36])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:07–15:33] Debbie’s abduction, assault, survival, and case resolution
• [17:58–27:37] Ray’s flight mishap, ditching, and ocean rescue
• [30:23–39:32] Jasmine’s account of the home invasion, shooting, and aftermath

Conclusion

This episode of Cold Case Files stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unthinkable terror and violence. Each survivor’s voice is distinct and moving, sharing not only the physical reality of their ordeals, but also the emotional journeys and the complex aftermath of survival. The episode emphasizes the life-changing importance of justice, faith, forgiveness, and the will to live.

If you haven’t listened, this episode’s vivid details and direct survivor testimony capture both the horror of violent crime and the powerful, complicated aftermath faced by survivors.