I SURVIVED: I Was Going to Have to Cut My Leg Off

Summary

Cold Case Files: "I SURVIVED: I Was Going to Have to Cut My Leg Off"

Host: Paula Barros
Release Date: March 1, 2025

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Cold Case Files, hosted by Paula Barros, listeners are taken through three harrowing survival stories that highlight human resilience in the face of unimaginable terror and physical trauma. Each narrative delves deep into the circumstances surrounding the victims' ordeals, their fight for survival, and the eventual resolution of their cases. This summary encapsulates the key moments, emotional testimonies, and the investigative breakthroughs that bring these cold cases to light.

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April's Ordeal: A Nightmare in Paris, Tennessee

Timestamp: [01:03] – [15:39]

Summary:

April’s story begins in November 2005 in Paris, Tennessee, where she agrees to give her ex-boyfriend Brandon and his friend Virgil a ride for a joyride. What starts as a seemingly innocent trip quickly descends into a nightmare as Virgil turns violent.

Key Points:

• The Ride Turns Deadly: April recounts how Virgil abruptly pulls Brandon from the passenger seat into the back, leading to Brandon being strangled ([02:28]).

  April [02:32]: "I was hitting Virgil and pushing him. I didn't know what to do."

• Virgil's Brutality: Virgil assaults April multiple times, both physically and sexually, in an isolated cemetery location. April describes the terror she felt, the physical pain, and the psychological manipulation Virgil employed to keep her subdued.

  April [05:13]: "I didn't want to die. I knew that if I didn't get away, he was going to kill me."

• Attempted Murder: Virgil attempts to burn April alive by pouring gasoline on her and her car, trapping her in the trunk engulfed in flames. April utilizes the emergency release cord to escape just as a passing car fails to stop despite her desperate cries for help.

  April [12:04]: "I knew he was doing something and he was moving really fast... I pulled it and everything went black."

• Aftermath and Recovery: April survives severe burns and disfiguring injuries, including third-degree burns to nearly half her body and the loss of parts of her hands. Virgil is eventually apprehended, pleading guilty to multiple charges, while Brandon remains uncharged and out of contact.

  April [14:32]: "He never gave me any reason as to why. It was happening, except he felt as though he was being set up."

Notable Quotes:

• April [07:20]: "I was just looking around, trying to figure out, if I run, where can I run to?"
• April [15:06]: "I survived because I watched a show... the fact that my clothes were wet, the fact that it was raining really saved my life."

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Mark's Survival: Courage in the Face of Tragedy

Timestamp: [16:54] – [27:04]

Summary:

In April 1984, Mark, working alone on oil wells in southeastern Illinois, faces a life-threatening accident when his right leg becomes tragically caught in a drive shaft. With his leg gruesomely severed below the knee, Mark finds himself in a dire situation requiring immediate and drastic action to survive.

Key Points:

• The Accident: Mark describes the moment his leg was caught in the drive shaft, leading to severe injury and immense blood loss. The absence of a safety guard exacerbates the severity of the accident.

  Mark [17:56]: "There was nothing left of my leg below the knee. It was really a moment of disbelief."

• Desperate Measures: Realizing the fragility of his condition, Mark decides to amputate his leg to free himself from the machine. Utilizing his training and a hunting knife, he performs a self-amputation, driven by sheer will to survive.

  Mark [19:09]: "I was running out of options, and I had to change the situation very quickly."

• Survival and Rescue: After cutting off his leg, Mark crawls for over 100 yards to seek help. Thanks to a makeshift tourniquet, he manages to stay conscious long enough to be discovered and receive medical attention.

  Mark [21:34]: "I survived because of the grace of God given me the opportunity..."

• Medical Recovery and Aftermath: Mark undergoes multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, eventually returning to work within nine months. The oil well type that caused his injury is subsequently decommissioned. Today, Mark serves as a news and sports director, having overcome his traumatic past.

  Mark [27:04]: "I survived because of the grace of God given me the opportunity..."

Notable Quotes:

• Mark [19:53]: "I knew I was in danger, and I had to act fast."
• Mark [22:00]: "There was nothing left of my leg below the knee."

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Jesse's Terrifying Encounter: Surviving a Savage Attack

Timestamp: [28:40] – [39:50]

Summary:

Jesse’s story unfolds in April 1983 in Pampa, Texas, during a fierce snowstorm. En route to Chicago, Jesse picks up two hitchhikers, an act that quickly turns into a fight for his life when the men reveal their violent intentions.

Key Points:

• Picking Up the Hitchhikers: Despite initial reservations and his mother's warnings, Jesse decides to help the men after feeling compassion for their dog.

  Jesse [28:54]: "I felt sorry for the dog, so I said, okay, guys..."

• Sudden Assault: As they drive on a remote, icy road, one of the men brandishes a hammer and launches a brutal attack, striking Jesse repeatedly. In a split-second decision, Jesse accelerates the van to escape, temporarily halting the assault.

  Jesse [32:07]: "I went very fuzzy and unclear... I didn't go unconscious."

• Desperate Escape: Attempting to flee again, Jesse suffers a concussion, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung. Despite his severe injuries, he musters the strength to crawl to the highway, where he is eventually rescued by compassionate responders.

  Jesse [36:44]: "I stood holding my right hand up, trying to stop a car, and no one would stop."

• Legal Resolution: The local police face challenges in the investigation, but a Texas Ranger’s persistence leads to the capture of the assailants, who are eventually sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

  Jesse [38:11]: "I survived because there's something that I'm supposed to do..."

Notable Quotes:

• Jesse [33:02]: "I thought I've seen this in movies before."
• Jesse [37:14]: "I survived because there's something that I'm supposed to do..."

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Conclusion

This episode of Cold Case Files powerfully illustrates the extraordinary lengths to which individuals will go to survive life-threatening situations. Through April, Mark, and Jesse’s stories, listeners witness not only the physical and emotional toll of these traumatic events but also the unwavering human spirit that drives survival against all odds. The detailed recounting of each case underscores the importance of resilience, quick thinking, and sometimes sheer luck in overcoming the darkest of circumstances.

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Case Resolutions

• April's Case: Virgil is convicted of attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, and sexual assault, receiving a 35-year prison sentence. Brandon, however, is not charged and has since ceased contact with April.

• Mark's Case: Despite the horrific accident, Mark fully recovers and returns to a productive life, transitioning to a role in media.

• Jesse's Case: The attackers are apprehended 1,400 miles away in North Carolina. Richard Vaught receives a 15-year sentence, while Kendall Novelli is sentenced to 30 years for attempted murder.

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This episode not only recounts personal tales of survival but also highlights the relentless pursuit of justice by investigators, transforming cold cases into resolved stories that offer closure and a testament to human endurance.

Transcript

[Jesse]

Get the Angel Reese Special at McDonald's.

[Mark]

Now, let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and a drink.

[Jesse]

Sound good.

[April]

I participate in restaurants for a limited time.

[Mark]

We have big feelings for Fridays. Is it because Fridays also mean free fries at McDonald's? Free McDonald's fries. It's okay if you need a minute. Free fries Friday. Get free medium fries with any $1 purchase valid one time on Fridays through 12. 31. 25. Appetite spin. McDonald's excludes tax. Must opt into reports.

[Marissa Pinson]

Hi, I Survived listeners. I'm Marissa Pinson, and if you're enjoying this show, I just want to remind you that episodes of I Survived, as well as the A and E classic podcast, Cold Case Files, City Confidential, and American justice, are all available ad free on the new A and E Crime and investigation channel on Apple Podcasts and Apple plus for just $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. And now onto the show. This episode contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

[April]

I didn't want to die. I knew that if I didn't get away, he was going to kill me. And there was no getting away.

[Marissa Pinson]

Real people.

[Virgil]

There was nothing left of my leg below the knee. It was the only way I was going to get free. I was going to have to cut my leg off.

[Marissa Pinson]

Who faced death.

[Jesse]

I just felt that I wasn't supposed to do that, that I wasn't supposed.

[Marissa Pinson]

To die and live to tell how.

[April]

I remember being in the trunk and it just being completely lit up with the fire that was coming off my body.

[Marissa Pinson]

This is I survived. It's November 2005 in Paris, Tennessee. April's ex boyfriend, Brandon, has asked her to pick him and a friend up for a joyride.

[April]

Brandon got into the passenger seat and Virgil got in the back and they said, let's ride. And we just took off riding. I just thought Virgil was a nice guy, just funny and fun to hang around with, you know, maybe into a little drinking and stuff, but not anything psycho or anything. It got quiet and we were on a really dark road and out of nowhere, Virgil grabbed Brandon by the throat and pulled him over the passenger seat into the back.

[Marissa Pinson]

April slammed on the brakes as Virgil started strangling Brandon.

[April]

I was hitting Virgil and pushing him. I didn't know what to do. I was just like, you know, I thought they were playing at first until he really pulled him completely over. Whenever I tried to drive again. He grabbed me by the hair of my head. And I don't remember his exact words, but it was basically, no, you don't. He had me pull into the cemetery and Brandon was wheezing and it looked like he was unconscious. I didn't know if he was dying or anything. I guess that's what triggered me to jump out of the car and take off running. And that's when he caught me and he started punching me in the face in the head. My ex boyfriend told him to do whatever he wanted with me, but to leave him out of it.

[Marissa Pinson]

April was shocked that Brandon was not going to help her.

[April]

I thought he might help me, you know, I figured, you know, he's a pretty big guy. I'm his ex girlfriend, we're good friends. Why would you let somebody hurt me? And I just. I just lost everything right then. I knew that there was no help. And I was either gonna have to fight back or just take it. Then he said, brandon, you know, he pointed at him and he's like, get in the trunk. And he cowardly ducked his head and said, fine and got in and he closed the trunk. We were on the top of a pretty good sized hill of the cemetery. As he was taking me down the hill, he stopped and he told me to take off my clothes. And I'm just thinking the whole time that this isn't happening to me. This is not happening to me. I'm not about to get raped. We were on the top of a pretty good sized hill of the cemetery. As he was taking me down the hill, he stopped and he told me to take off my clothes. And of course he was still assaulting me. And there was really. I couldn't do anything. He had my hair. There was no getting out of it. I was so small, I couldn't fight back. He's a really big guy. He took me down to where there was a brush pile and just a big ditch, and he raped me. He took me back up the hill and knocked on the trunk and made sure that Brandon answered him. And he took me back down and up and back down about four times.

[Marissa Pinson]

Virgil beat and sexually assaulted April several times during the night.

[April]

During and after the rapes, he would strangle me into unconsciousness. I think. I tried to fight back once, and he grabbed me and he choked me and he threw me on the ground. And I just remember not being able to move or talk or anything. And I could see the cemetery and the moon. And all I could hear him say was, how do you like that? I was very scared of Virgil. I was scared to run because I knew he was going to catch me. And if I ran, it was just going to make him madder and make him hit me even harder. He kept telling me, don't cry, don't cry. And so I'm just trying to just disembody myself and to just. I didn't want to die. I knew that if I didn't get away, he was gonna kill me. And there was no getting away. He would knock on the trunk and say, you know, are you still there? And just get an answer out of my ex boyfriend, just to make sure that he hadn't gotten away or passed out or anything. He would then take me back down the hill and to write me again this.

[Marissa Pinson]

The cemetery was in an isolated location on the outskirts of town.

[April]

I kept hoping that every time a car would go by that it would be a cop. And I would look up the hill and he kept saying, do you think somebody's gonna save you? Do you think someone's gonna just save you? And that made me lose any hope I had of anybody helping me.

[Marissa Pinson]

Virgil's behavior became more erratic.

[April]

He went from the devil to a friend of mine. He was like. He was going from raging to laughing and wanting to just, like, cut up. And I don't even know him well enough to sit and talk to him, much less make conversation after he's raped me.

[Marissa Pinson]

April was still looking for an opportunity to escape.

[April]

I was just looking around, trying to figure out, if I run, where can I run to, Is there any way that I can get away? And all I could think of was, if I take off running, he's gonna knock me down and bust my head on one of the headstones. He took me around to the back of the car and he knocked on the trunk to see if my ex boyfriend was still in there. And there was no answer. Then he said, do you think that he's asleep or do you think that he's dead? As frantic as I was, I was just, he's asleep. He has to be asleep. He can't be dead. He has to be asleep.

[Marissa Pinson]

April and Virgil did not know that Brandon had escaped from the trunk and run off.

[April]

And he never opened the trunk. He took me around to the front of the car where he raped me again. I was constantly negotiating with him, talking, trying to figure out what was going on. As I was pleading with him, my words were, I have no idea what's going on. I don't know anything about you. I don't know anything about your personal life. I don't know anything about your family. I kept trying to instill in his mind that I was absolutely in the dark and I had no clue and to please at least tell me what I'd done. Why are you doing this? Why me? Why? He never gave me any reason as to why it was happening, except he felt as if though he was being set up. He thought that I knew that he had drugs or that I was going to get him into trouble.

[Marissa Pinson]

The more April pleaded, the more violent Virgil became.

[April]

He beat me until I was unconscious. Quite a few times he laid me down in front of the car and tried to run me over. But I came to quick enough to crawl out of the way and it was like he couldn't. He couldn't do what he was trying to do. He was trying to get rid of me and he couldn't. I was unconscious and I came to, he was above me and he was holding a screwdriver. And I knew I'd been stabbed because it had blood on it. And he was trying to find other places to where he could puncture me. And I had made the decision to play dead.

[Marissa Pinson]

Virgil then turned his attention to removing evidence from the car.

[April]

I knew he was doing something and he was moving really fast. And I just kind of glanced over at my car and he was wiping his fingerprints off of the steering wheel, the door handles, the trunk, everything. He was done with that. And I guess he decided that it wasn't good enough, that he had to finish off what he had started.

[Marissa Pinson]

It started to rain heavily as Virgil forced April back into her car and drove away.

[April]

He was still hitting me in the head, so I'm sure I blacked out a couple of times. And he was just because the town is so small that I would know where we were. Anywhere he turned, he was going down roads and turning around, doing U turns. And I don't know how I remember this, but I remember him backing my car into his driveway and he came out with a gas can.

[Marissa Pinson]

Virgil drove April to a remote field on the outskirts of town. Her clothes were soaking wet from the heavy rain.

[April]

He put me into the trunk and that's when I realized that Brandon wasn't there. He poured gas on me and that's when he lit the fire. He closed it, the trunk, and it was one big whoosh of fire. He knew I was alive then because I screamed the whole time that I was on fire. He was pouring gas on the rest of my car. He then set my car on Fire. I heard it go up in flames. And the only thing I could think of was my gas tank is going to blow up, and it's right underneath my head. I remember being in the trunk and it just being completely lit up with the fire that was coming off my body.

[Marissa Pinson]

April knew her car's trunk was fitted with an emergency release cord.

[April]

As I was on fire, I was holding onto the cord, waiting for my opportunity. It was my lifeline, and I was just waiting for any opportunity that I could to pull it. I heard out of nowhere, there were tires on gravel behind my car. And I didn't know if it was help or I didn't know who it was. I heard a car door close and the car drive away. And as soon as I could tell the car was down the road, I pulled it and everything went black. I just. I knew that I did it, that I did it. I got out.

[Marissa Pinson]

April escaped from the burning car and realized Virgil had gone. She was still on fire.

[April]

It was kind of just like. Like a sigh of relief when that trunk lid opened. I don't remember getting out. I don't remember putting the fire out. I just knew that he. He was gone, and I had a chance to live.

[Marissa Pinson]

April's ordeal had lasted seven hours.

[April]

I started walking, and there was a truck that pulled up beside me. My car was on his property, and they saw the fire. And I said, I need an ambulance. So the only thing on my mind was, I can't breathe. I need help. I'm hurt. I just know that he put me in his truck. He took me in and laid me on the couch and then put me on the floor, you know? And his family crouched down and prayed for me while he called 911.

[Marissa Pinson]

911.

[April]

What are your emergencies?

[Jesse]

I got a car that's gone off the road. It's on fire. I got one here, hurt pretty bad.

[Mark]

Paramedics now.

[Virgil]

You need to tell me what kind of injuries we have. I don't know, but she's bleeding pretty good.

[Mark]

Okay. And give me some description on her other injuries.

[Jesse]

What other injuries you got? Burn. She's burned pretty good.

[April]

She's burned.

[Jesse]

She's stabbed in the back. She's what? She's stabbed in the back.

[April]

Stabbed in the back.

[Marissa Pinson]

April suffered third degree burns to almost half her body. She spent 116 days in the hospital. Doctors amputated her right hand and all the fingers on her left hand except her thumb. April has never found out exactly why Virgil attacked her.

[April]

He never gave me any reason as to why. It was happening, except he felt as though he was being set up. He thought that I knew that he had drugs or that I was going to get him into trouble. That was the only explanation I ever got.

[Marissa Pinson]

Virgil spent 45 days on the run before turning himself in. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison for attempted murder, kidnapping, assault and sexual assault. April's ex boyfriend Brandon was not charged. She has not heard from him since the attack.

[April]

I survived because I watched a show with a lady who had gotten kidnapped and she lived by getting out of her trunk with the emergency release. The fact that my clothes were wet, the fact that it was raining really saved my life.

[Marissa Pinson]

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[Mark]

Great brands, great prices. Everyone's got a reason to rack because.

[Marissa Pinson]

They have framed jeans.

[April]

Nike, yes, just so many good brands.

[Mark]

Vince, Kurt, Geiger, London, Rag and Bone and more are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. You never know what you'll find but you know it's going to be so good. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. We have big feelings for Fridays. Is it because Fridays also mean free fries at McDonald's? Free McDonald's fries. It's okay if you need a minute. Free fries Friday. Get free medium Fries with any $1 purchase valid one time on Fridays through 1231 25. Advertisement McDonald's excludes tax. Must opt into reports.

[Marissa Pinson]

It'S April 1984 in southeastern Illinois, Mark works alone on oil wells, checking and maintaining the machinery. The wells extract a mixture of oil and salt water from the ground.

[Virgil]

I pulled up to the well site and parked my truck about 50 yards away, got out and was maintaining the engine, checking the unit. This site consisted of an engine and then through a series of drive shafts ran a saltwater pump, which moved the saltwater from one site to another. And it was at that time that I had done what I had done hundreds and thousands of times before. I stepped over the moving shaft.

[Marissa Pinson]

The shaft safety guard had been removed during earlier maintenance.

[Virgil]

Once the safety guard is moved, then of course the shaft is totally exposed. I didn't really Notice the guard was off until I was stepping over it. And of course, at the point of when it grabbed me and sucked me.

[Marissa Pinson]

In, Mark's right leg became caught up in the drive shaft.

[Virgil]

At first, I wasn't sure what had happened because I immediately felt the pull and the throwing. It was like someone slamming me in the back, especially the lower body, with maybe the force of a car. And as I landed on my left leg and and disengage the motor, I could see my ankle and the bottom part of the hip boots laying about 25ft away. That's when I realized that this machine had not only separated my ankle from the rest of my foot, but also had pretty much destroyed all of my leg below the knee. It was really a moment of disbelief. I see my foot in the boot. I was trying to understand what had happened. It had thrown me around. And I guess at that point in time, I realized that, you know, my life was in jeopardy and that something was going to have to be done. That's when I looked down and seen the blood and everything as well below me. I realized very quickly that something's going to have to be done because I have an open wound and blood is flowing very freely.

[Marissa Pinson]

The drive shaft had severed me major arteries in Mark's right leg.

[Virgil]

First response was, I started yelling out, God, don't let me die like this. Started waving. I was only 50 yards away from a major highway, but by being so low to the ground, still connected to the shaft, the engine really obstructed people from seeing me. My thoughts were continually, this is supposed to happen to someone else. As I assessed the situation, you were running out of options, and you had to change the situation very quickly. At this point, I was still not really feeling any pain. I was faint and felt very nauseous and knew that I'd lost a lot of blood, but not really any pain.

[Marissa Pinson]

Mark's body had gone into shock, greatly reducing the pain.

[Virgil]

The feeling was one of urgency. I knew I had to do something to better my chances of surviving. I was caught up in this machine. Blood was going everywhere, and time was being minimized pretty quickly as to what I had to do. I looked down and see everything below my knee is wrapped around the shaft that there was nothing left of my leg below the knee. The only way I was going to get free, I was going to have to cut my leg off. I was wearing a uniform provided by the company shirt and pants and also a belt. And within that, I also was wearing a hunting knife that was looped through the belt. As I took the knife off of my belt, which I just started wearing two weeks before that, and I started to cut, I dropped the knife. Maybe out of the instinct of this is not right. I shouldn't be cutting myself at the time. When I dropped the knife, I reached in front of me and opened up a 1 inch water valve which was used to bleed and to bleed air out of the pump. I splashed some of the salt water in my face and my mouth. It was very sulfur based. Coming from 3,000 foot down, that stung a lot. It was nasty tasting. I attribute that to keeping me awake and conscious. Then I reached back for the knife, realizing that was my only option to get free of this machine.

[Marissa Pinson]

Having hunted deer, Mark knew how to handle a knife.

[Virgil]

After many years of dressing and skinning out deer, knowing how tough the skin was, that led to some knowledge that I had. Knowing that there was no way I was going to pull free, that there was going to have to be another option. I knew that my bone had been broken, the femur bone. There was nothing solid connecting me. It had taken everything just above the knee. That's where I was still connected With.

[Marissa Pinson]

Mark's bone shattered, he needed to cut through skin and muscle to free himself.

[Virgil]

Once I picked the knife back up, it was a clean slice. Just a matter of seconds. Not even sure I can tell you that. I looked at it, just knew where my leg was, where I was connected, and made a quick sweep of the knife and cut free. After the initial feeling, I believe the adrenaline kicked in and everything else. And I think there was more focus on surviving than the pain itself. I took the first step with what was my right leg and I fell flat on my face. Then I started crawling. I knew I had to get in front of the engine. My truck was 50 yards away. But I was concerned about having to be able to get up into the truck and not sure about whether that was possible. Even though I was closer to my truck, I thought my better chance of getting help was making my way to the highway, which is twice as far away as my truck. So I started crawling, much like you would under ropes, army type of crawl, using my arms and what I could with my left leg. I looked down and blood was gushing out of my leg. The open wound, it was just going everywhere.

[Marissa Pinson]

Mark had lost two thirds of his blood and was close to death.

[Virgil]

I knew I was going to have to try to restrict the flow of blood out of my limb. And that's when I pulled my belt off and wrapped it around what Was left of my leg, Found a piece of driftwood and twisted it and got the pressure strong enough, hopefully, to where it would restrict the flow of blood.

[Marissa Pinson]

Mark's makeshift tourniquet helped him to remain conscious. He still had over 100 yards to crawl to reach the highway.

[Virgil]

I was really in fear of my life and, you know, at moments would still have thoughts of my family, you know, how would my wife make it without me? How would my brothers, you know, and my parents, how would they do without me if I did die? As I was crawling, A couple of vehicles went by and they did not notice me, apparently. But then it was just within a minute that I did hear breaks and then more breaks. And I knew that some vehicles were stopping. I hoped that they were stopping because they saw me. It was really quite strange because it was two guys that I knew served on the volunteer fire department with them. One went to the scene to see if there was anything that could be done there. The other knelt by me and started speaking to me. He was asking me questions as to was there anything left in my leg, Anything that could be saved or reattached. I told him no, that everything was mangled and pretty much wrapped up in a shaft. And then he kept asking me other questions to keep me conscious and to reassure me that help was on its way. I'm still concerned about the amount of blood that I'd lost and. And still concerned about living. The ambulance arrived immediately. Put an air cast type of splint on my leg, Stopped the blood from flowing. They also initiated three IVs. Try to get the fluids built back in. The emergency personnel was very cool and calm, Very reassuring, But you could still see the concern on their faces, of course, the blood loss and the possibility of me slipping away.

[Marissa Pinson]

Mark was taken to a local hospital but needed emergency surgery elsewhere.

[Virgil]

I continued to ask the emergency doctor, am I going to live? He's in the process of calling for helicopter support for transportation. All three helicopters that are normally available were not available. So I was transported with a police escort to an orthopedic hospital around 57 miles away. I had three surgeries before my leg was sewed back up. And 15 days in a hospital before I went back home. And rehabilitation. Learning to walk again with a prosthesis. And I was back on the job within nine months, exactly to the date of my accident.

[Marissa Pinson]

The type of oil well that caused Mark's injuries is no longer in use. Mark now works as a news and sports director for an Illinois radio station.

[Virgil]

I survived because of the grace of God given me the opportunity, the instinct and the ability to assess the situation very quickly was a key, I believe, in allowing me to survive this accident.

[April]

For weeks now, New Jersey residents have been plagued by unexplained drones flying overhead.

[Mark]

Is there intelligent alien life?

[Virgil]

And if so, has the government been covering it up? All right.

[Marissa Pinson]

UFO sightings the military can't explain, Congressional hearings, Pentagon whistleblower. What does it all mean?

[Virgil]

What does it all mean? We are here to try and figure it all out with our new Ancient Aliens podcast. There is a doorway in the universe.

[Mark]

Beyond it is the promise of truth.

[Virgil]

It demands we question everything we have ever been taught. The evidence is all around us. The future is right before our eyes. We are not alone. We have never been alone. Listen to the Ancient Aliens podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark]

Great brands, great prices. Everyone's got a reason to rack because.

[Marissa Pinson]

They have framed jeans.

[April]

Nike, yes, just so many good brands.

[Mark]

Vince, Kurt, Geiger, London, Rag and Bone and more are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. You never know what you'll find, but you know it's going to be so good. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. We have big feelings for Fridays. Is it because Fridays also mean free fries at McDonald's? Free McDonald's fries? It's okay if you need a minute. Free fries Friday. Get free medium fries with any $1 purchase dollar one time on Fridays through 12:30. 1:25. Appetite spin. McDonald's excludes tax. Must opt into reports.

[Marissa Pinson]

It's April 1983 in Pampa, Texas. Jesse is driving in a freak snowstorm in the Texas badlands. En route to Chicago, he stops at a store where two strangers in their 20s ask him for a ride.

[Jesse]

Even though I kept saying no. They followed me, and as I came out of the store, I noticed they had a dog with them. I felt sorry for the dog, so I said, okay, guys, see if you can move some stuff around. When they jumped at the opportunity, ran in, started shifting stuff around, and then we all piled in. One of the fellows was certainly more forthcoming and charming. His friends seemed reticent and hesitant.

[Marissa Pinson]

The snowstorm had eased, but the roads were still dangerously icy. Jesse decided he and the hitchhikers should check into a motel.

[Jesse]

I got my room and they registered together in the room right next to me, and I said good night and spent the rest of the evening wondering if I had made a mistake. I had involved myself with two people about which I knew nothing. I even called my mom back in Beaumont just to let her know that the weather hadn't hurt me. She said, I don't know about hitchhikers. You really shouldn't do that. I didn't think that they would steal the van, but I was worried about something. I returned to the van a couple of times that night. I woke up at probably 5 o'clock in the morning. The next day, as soon as I was up, I thought I would leave, leave them in their rooms. I had got into the van, even started the van, and I looked and saw their room. And I thought, I can't do that to anybody. That would be wrong. I lightly knocked on their door, hoping that they wouldn't answer so that I could at least in my heart, say I'd given them a chance. And they blew. It wasn't my fault, but one of them answered immediately and we were on the road again. By 6:30, the affable one had become quiet, which was a very strange feeling because now we were in the van with no one talking. About an hour down the road, one of them said, do you mind pulling over? I'd like to take a leak.

[Marissa Pinson]

Jesse pulled over on a remote access road. The hitchhikers got out with their dog and Jesse remained in the van.

[Jesse]

I had the van in gear, as I recall, and just as the engine was revving up, the sliding door slid open and I turned and that's when I saw this hammer.

[Marissa Pinson]

The hitchhiker, who had been talkative, now had a hammer raised above his head.

[Jesse]

It was a small sledgehammer, a three pound shop hammer. I turned and I looked and I saw his face and I looked in his eyes and I said, oh God, please don't kill me. He had blue eyes and he had spittle on his lips and he was coming down hard on me and I didn't go unconscious, but I went very fuzzy and unclear.

[Marissa Pinson]

The men also started kicking Jesse.

[Jesse]

From the moment the hammer hit me to the boots, kicking me. I don't recall any pain at all. Nothing but frightening, a sense of death, a sense that this is going to be the end.

[Marissa Pinson]

Jesse was still behind the wheel of his van.

[Jesse]

As soon as I understood what was happening to me, I stiffened up and I slammed on the accelerator pedal to the metal. I pushed as hard as I could and the van lurched forward and all of the hitting stopped. They were tossed away from me and it was a brilliant move on my part, but I didn't have a second idea after that. I just stiffened up and kept my foot on the accelerator.

[Marissa Pinson]

The road was covered in snow and ice.

[Jesse]

I thought I've seen this in movies before. The leading man opens the door and jumps out of the van and rolls to safety. And that's what I thought I would be able to do. So I opened the door and I jumped out of the van. But I forgot that I still had my seatbelt on. And so I was once again in the same situation where one fellow was striking me and another guy was still steering the van. The fellow who was holding, holding the steering wheel began to kick me and try to kick me out of the van. And the fellow who had hit me was trying to pull me in with the harness.

[Marissa Pinson]

The van was traveling at 30 miles per hour. After a violent struggle, Jesse released the seat belt and jumped from the van. He had a concussion, broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

[Jesse]

I remember ending up in a snow drift of some sort. I remember looking up and thinking again, oh, God, please don't let me die. I heard the van moving away from me, the sound of a vehicle leaving. And I thought, if I could just lie here and pretend that I'm dead, they'll continue to drive away. They'll go away and I'll be alright. Just as I thought that, I heard the van stop. And then I heard the van backing up. And I thought, I'm in the snow. They probably can't even see me. And then I thought, if they do see me, they'll think I'm dead. I look like I'm dead. I can't feel my body. I feel like I'm dead. And I knew that if I could just be still, perfectly still, that they would not see me or they would leave me.

[Marissa Pinson]

The van reversed rapidly towards Jesse.

[Jesse]

They ran over my feet, but I didn't move. I stayed perfectly still. I heard the door, the sliding door of the van open up. And I heard one of the men call out, here, Bear. Here Bear. They had come back because of the dog they felt sorry for. They didn't want it to die out there all by itself. And the snow. It's the same reason that I had invited them into the van. He got into the van and they closed the door and they drove away and left me in the snow to die. My clavicle had been separated from the skeleton and my ribs had been broken and my lung was collapsed and my side was caved in onto my heart. That's why I could feel it so vigorously inside me, jumping. I thought, if I close my eyes, I won't wake up. Something just lifted me out of the snow. I just felt that I wasn't supposed to do that. That I wasn't supposed. Supposed to die and that there was a reason to live. And it didn't matter what they had done, that I could do it, that I could make it. And somehow I stood up. My glasses were gone. I'm totally blind without them. My shoes were off. I could feel my heart, and I couldn't catch my breath. And I knew that I had to walk several hundred feet, almost the distance of a football field, and I had to get back to the highway or I wouldn't make it.

[Marissa Pinson]

Jesse struggled to remain conscious as he reached the highway.

[Jesse]

I stood holding my right hand up, trying to stop a car, and no one would stop. I probably didn't look very much like you would want to have me in the car. And I thought again that if no one stops, I'm not going to make it. I had trouble breathing, and I kept thinking, there's got to be something inside of me that's very messed up.

[Marissa Pinson]

The hammer attack had left Jesse with a collapsed lung.

[Jesse]

Suddenly, a truck showed up on the right side. I could barely see. They couldn't ignore me, and within a few minutes, I was being taken care of by the ambulance. When they took me into the emergency surgery, they had to find out basically what was wrong. I had several lacerations on my head from the hammer blows. My eyes were blackened. My face was bruised. There was bruising all down my sides. They stopped the internal bleeding, took care of my collapsed lung, taped my broken ribs. I was in intensive care for six days.

[Marissa Pinson]

Doctors told Jesse he would have died if he hadn't been in such good physical condition.

[Jesse]

Based on what I was able to tell them and what they were able to piece together, the local police weren't able to do very much. The case was going nowhere. And so they assigned a Texas Ranger to the case. And through his sources, he was able to find that one of the assailants had escaped from a minimum security prison in California.

[Marissa Pinson]

Jesse's attackers were captured in North Carolina, 1,400 miles from Pampa, Texas. Richard Vaught was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted murder. Hammer attacker Kendall Novelli was sentenced to 30 years for attempted murder.

[Jesse]

I survived because there's something that I'm supposed to do, and I haven't quite done it yet, and I didn't want to die.

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[Mark]

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[Virgil]

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