Cold Case Files: "I SURVIVED: I Was Waiting To Die and It Was Taking Forever"

Podcast: Cold Case Files (A&E / PodcastOne)
Host: Paula Barros
Date: September 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This powerful episode of Cold Case Files tells the extraordinary true stories of three survivors—Kay, Johnny, and Scott—each of whom endured unthinkable violence or peril and lived to recount their ordeals. Through poignant, first-person testimony, the episode delves deeply into their near-death experiences, the split-second decisions that helped them survive, and the long road to recovery and justice. The host guides listeners through each survivor’s account, interspersed with insights into the nature of survival, trauma, and human resilience.

Survivor Stories & Key Discussion Points

1. Kay’s Ordeal – Home Invasion and Survival

(Laurel, Delaware, September 1995)

Background

• Kay, a single mother and insurance agent, lived with her 12-year-old son, Nick, in a close-knit mobile home park. (02:26)
• A stranger named "Jeff Wilson" appeared late one night under false pretenses, trying to gain access to her home.
• Kay's instincts told her something was deeply wrong: "When I looked out the window, it was just like looking at the devil. I mean, you could just feel the evil through the door." (03:20 - Kay)

The Attack

• The intruder returned, breaking in with a butcher knife, and threatened Kay and her son. (04:29)
• Despite offering valuables, she realized the intent was sexual assault, not robbery. (05:20)
• Kay made a conscious decision to resist: "At that point I made up my mind I was gonna fight. I was coming out of there. I was gonna get my son out of that house." (02:04, 06:05)

Key Struggle Moments

• Kay managed to break the attacker’s knife during a struggle—demonstrating quick thinking and incredible courage. (06:32)
• Even as Kay was tied up, she tried to maintain her composure, focusing on her child's safety. (08:29)

Assault & Attempted Murder

• The intruder sexually assaulted Kay, then attempted to murder her by slashing and stabbing her neck, back, and head—over 45 stab wounds in total. (09:08)
  • “He put a knife in my throat and was basically trying to rip my larynx out.” (01:40, 09:28)
  • “He asked me, are you dead yet?...I tried to answer him, and I moaned. And when I did that, I realized instantly it was a mistake. Because he started stabbing me again.” (11:20 - Kay)
• Kay endured collapsed lungs, a tracheotomy, and catastrophic wounds, but pretended to be dead until the attacker left. (09:54)

Aftermath and Recovery

• Staggering and gravely injured, Kay fought her way to call for help, and her son Nick ultimately saved her with quick action. (13:00)
• The attacker, Mark Eskridge, wasn’t arrested until 10 years later—shockingly, he lived nearby and attended the same church. (14:20)
  • “I survived because my son came out and was able to help me… Because I was determined that I was gonna make it.” (15:02 - Kay)

2. Johnny’s Survival – Trapped After a Remote Car Crash

(Mount Hood, Oregon, September 1976)

Background

• Johnny, a nurse, took a solo mountain road trip in company car and crashed down a 170-foot ravine, pinned by the vehicle. (18:43, 19:59)
• Despite grave injury—his foot crushed and punctured lung—Johnny’s medical knowledge helped him assess his condition and chances. (20:52)

Ordeal in the Wilderness

• Johnny was trapped for two weeks, unable to walk or escape, completely reliant on resourcefulness.
  • "I was more worried about gangrene. I knew the clock was ticking on getting an infection that would go throughout my body and ultimately kill me." (26:13 - Johnny)
• He ingeniously used whatever he found: a t-shirt and string to drink water from the stream, a tennis racket and mirror to try to signal cars, and ultimately fashioned tools to free himself. (22:10, 24:19)
• Johnny documented goodbye notes, confronting the real possibility of death. (22:50)

Escape and Rescue

• Eventually, after repeated failed attempts and declining health, Johnny succeeded in breaking himself free using a large rock and tire iron, crawling out to safety. (28:46)
  • "Within a couple of hours I was able to get my foot out and get free." (28:38 - Johnny)
• He flagged down a passing truck and was taken for medical treatment. (28:49)
• Johnny’s crushed foot was amputated, but he later thrived as a para-athlete and mentor. (29:34)
  • "I've done the Antarctica marathon. I won the world triathlon championships in 1998… I believe I survived because one, I had the will to do it… And I had some luck." (29:34 - Johnny)

3. Scott’s Story – Carjacking, Attempted Execution, and Survival

(Rockland County, New York, January 1994)

Background

• Scott and his best friend Michael, both 18, are approached in a mall parking lot and carjacked at gunpoint. (32:55)
• The attacker, later identified as Edward Lamont Summers, forced them to drive to remote sites; Scott intuitively sensed they were in mortal danger despite the attacker’s initial assurances. (34:10)

The Attack

• Ultimately, the young men were forced to lay face down in the snow, hands behind their backs.
• Scott recalls: "Michael was pleading. He goes, we did what you asked. He's like, you said you weren't going to hurt us. ...And then bang. Shot him square in the back of his head." (37:12 - Scott)
• The gunman then attempted to shoot Scott, but at the last moment, Scott heeded an inner voice and turned his head—saving his life but being badly wounded. (37:57)
  • "I was more or less waiting to die, and it seemed like it was taking forever." (01:57, 38:34 - Scott)
  • "If I didn't listen to that voice, I don't think I would have been here today. And because of that, I survived." (41:26 - Scott)

Aftermath and Justice

• Scott managed to seek help; Michael was taken to the hospital, but tragically did not survive. (40:43)
• Police apprehended Summers within 25 minutes using Scott's description. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison. (41:16)
• Survivor’s guilt and grief over Michael’s death is a powerful undercurrent in Scott's testimony.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kay:

  • "When I looked out the window, it was just like looking at the devil. I mean, you could just feel the evil through the door." (03:20)
  • "At that point I made up my mind I was gonna fight. I was coming out of there. I was gonna get my son out of that house." (02:04; repeated emphasis throughout)
  • "He put a knife in my throat and was basically trying to rip my larynx out." (01:40, 09:28)
  • "I survived because I was determined that I was gonna make it. If nothing else, just to make sure that my son was okay." (15:02)

• Johnny:

  • "I knew the clock was ticking on getting an infection that would go throughout my body and ultimately kill me." (26:13)
  • "Within a couple of hours I was able to get my foot out and get free." (28:38)
  • "I've done the Antarctica marathon. ...I believe I survived because one, I had the will to do it." (29:34)

• Scott:

  • "I was more or less waiting to die. And it seemed like it was taking forever." (01:57; 38:34)
  • "Please don't do this. I have a mother, I have a sister." (37:25 - Michael's last words, as recalled by Scott)
  • "If I didn't listen to that voice, I don't think I would have been here today. And because of that, I survived." (41:26)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Kay’s Story:

  • Introduction & Initial Events: 02:26 – 04:25
  • Intruder Attack: 04:29 – 09:08
  • Assault & Escape: 09:08 – 13:00
  • Aftermath & Arrest: 14:20 – 15:26

• Johnny’s Story:

  • Introduction & Crash: 18:43 – 19:59
  • Ordeal & Survival Strategies: 20:52 – 28:46
  • Escape & Recovery: 28:49 – 30:21

• Scott’s Story:

  • Introduction & Abduction: 32:55 – 34:10
  • Events Leading to the Shooting: 34:10 – 37:12
  • Shooting & Survival: 37:12 – 40:43
  • Aftermath & Reflection: 40:43 – 41:52

Tone and Language

The survivors recount their stories in a raw, sincere, and matter-of-fact tone, often interspersed with vivid emotion—fear, determination, sorrow, and relief. The host maintains a respectful, steady presence, offering context and supporting each account.

Conclusion

This episode is an unflinching exploration of survival under unimaginable circumstances. Kay, Johnny, and Scott’s stories highlight themes of instinct, strategy, luck, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Their accounts also underscore the trauma of survival, the pain of loss, and the sought-after closure when justice is served.

For listeners:
This episode contains disturbing descriptions of violence, trauma, and survival. Listeners seeking inspiration, resilience, and raw truth will find it in these harrowing, hope-filled survivor stories.