SURVIVING: Ernest Pine

Mon Jan 05 2026

In August 2008, a woman in rural Kentucky survived one of the most brutal assaults we have ever reported, but her strength that night ensured her attacker was identified and arrested. Years later, he is a free man living in the community. As we examined his past, we uncovered unsettling similarities to another case that has haunted a family for decades. Now, two families are searching for answers — and they need your help.

Summary

Crime Junkie – SURVIVING: Ernest Pine (January 5, 2026)

Overview

In this gripping episode, host Ashley Flowers (despite being sick) and cohost Brit Prawat deliver an urgent warning to the residents of Elizabethtown, Kentucky—and to all listeners—about the terrifying case of Ernest Pine. The episode explores his shocking, brutal attack on a neighbor in 2008, the survivor’s extraordinary courage, and a chilling possible link to an unsolved 1992 murder. The hosts delve deeply into themes of survival, justice, the long shadow of trauma, and the ways systems often fail survivors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Linda’s Survival and Heroism

Linda’s Story Unveiled:
- Ashley introduces the pseudonymous survivor, Linda, who was attacked in her own home in front of her sleeping toddler granddaughter ([00:05]).
- “There is a man living among you who committed one of the most violent, heinous crimes on a neighbor… The only reason police knew where to go… is because the victim wrote his name in her own blood and somehow managed to survive.” — Ashley Flowers ([00:05])
The Attack:
- Ernest Pine entered Linda’s home under the pretense of discussing a boat dock. Upon learning Linda’s husband was out, his demeanor changed; he forced his way in, armed with a gun, knife, and zip ties.
- Despite being assaulted, beaten, bound, and stabbed repeatedly—her throat slit "ear to ear"—Linda clung to life. She managed to stave off unconsciousness, apply towels to her own wounds, and, in a moment of supreme courage, wrote "PINE" in her own blood on the wall ([08:00]).
Immediate Aftermath:
- After Pine left, Linda hit the security system’s panic button and called family, resulting in a rapid police and ambulance response. First responders arrived within minutes and Linda, still conscious, identified her attacker ([09:00]).

2. The Investigation and Arrest

Quick Police Response:
- Authorities descended on Ernest Pine’s home (only a minute’s drive away) later that night. Pine denied everything initially ([10:00]).
Police Interrogation Extracts:
- Extensive audio from Pine’s post-arrest interrogation is played. He attempts to deflect, minimize, or outright deny involvement, even attempting to technically define “sexual assault” to avoid self-incrimination ([12:33]-[23:28]).
- Notable Exchange (Ernest Pine’s deflection):
  - “To me, a sexual assault would be a rape.” — Ernest Pine
  - “Well… she’s saying that you stuck some things up in her vagina and her anus, some foreign objects… If that wasn’t for sexual gratification… that may not be sexual assault?” — Detective Jason Folks ([19:43]-[20:29])
Mountain of Evidence:
- Ashley and Brit emphasize the overwhelming physical evidence: Pine had injuries, Linda’s blood on his clothing and weapons, the jammed gun, hunting knives, zip ties, rope, matching bloody footprints, and more—all corroborating Linda’s account ([24:00]).

3. Possible Link to a Cold Case: Elena Sanchez Hawkins (1992)

Similar Crime 16 Years Prior:
- During Pine’s indictment hearing, a man told Linda’s family he believed Ernest Pine killed his own daughter-in-law Elena in a strikingly similar 1992 case in Elizabethtown.
Elena’s Case Details:
- Elena was found by her husband, throat slit, hands bound, murdered with her young child unharmed in the home. No forced entry; she possibly knew her killer ([28:30]-[32:00]).
- Neighbors recalled a black Nissan Datsun pickup at the crime scene. Elena had been followed and stared at by a suspicious man during her overnight gas station shifts. Despite some DNA evidence, no one was ever charged.
Comparing the Cases:
- Both victims: physically similar, both bound, both attacked at home with a small child present, both suffering throat slashing. In both cases, the attacker brought or used weapons found at the scene, and left with them ([35:05]-[37:23]).
- Ashley questions whether the sexual assault elements in both cases were similar, noting ambiguity in police reporting and definitions at the time.
Pine’s Connection to Elizabethtown:
- The hosts uncover that Ernest Pine lived in Elizabethtown in 1992, just five miles from Elena, and worked odd jobs, including night shifts and pizza delivery. He was a church member near Elena’s gas station ([44:05]).

4. The Legal Outcome and Aftermath

Plea and Sentencing:
- Pine pleaded guilty to several charges, but sentences were concurrent, totaling 20 years ([39:00]).
- “It never ceases to amaze me how you get a lighter sentence for attempted murder… just because you didn’t do it right?” — Brit ([39:59])
Parole and Release:
- Pine was released after serving only 17 years. Kentucky law allows parole consideration after 85% of a sentence. His “church work” in prison purportedly influenced the board ([42:10]).
- Ashley and Brit express outrage at the lenient system and highlight survivors’ ongoing vulnerability ([43:07]).

5. Linda’s Enduring Struggles and the Toll of Crime

Lifelong Impact:
- Linda faces serious, lifelong trauma, is never left alone, and her husband’s health may have suffered from prolonged stress ([52:14]).
- She and her family have faced crippling medical debt with little recourse; Pine’s assets were protected via divorce and transfer ([50:19]-[51:52]).
- Ashley highlights the “unspoken costs” for survivors: “Survivors don't just have their physical well-being taken… On top of all of that, they often have to pay literal money for what their attacker did” ([50:49]).
Lack of Accountability and Family Denial:
- Pine’s family reportedly continues to stand by him, refusing to relinquish assets or acknowledge his crimes. Attempts by the podcast team to get family input were rebuffed ([49:33]-[49:45]).

6. Justice for Elena and the Ongoing Investigation

Cold Case Still Open:
- Despite the striking similarities and Pine’s presence in Elizabethtown, police have not officially connected him to Elena’s case. The DNA evidence remains ambiguous or untested; the family receives few answers ([40:49]-[41:40]).
- Listeners are urged to contact Kentucky State Police Post Four or the Crime Junkie tips line if they have information ([54:59]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On survivor’s strength:
- “When she finishes the final ‘e’ in his last name—Pine—somehow… Linda pushes herself up off the floor and makes her way out of the utility room…” ([08:00]) — Ashley Flowers
On the mountain of proof:
- “I mean, what more do they even need, though? Linda wrote his name in blood.” ([23:34]) — Brit
On legal frustration:
- “You told her she was going to die that day. You kept coming back… and just because by some miracle she survived, you get out of prison to maybe do this again to somebody?” ([40:12]) — Brit
On denied justice:
- “This is what we do. There's not a particular reason why we have to be talking to you… This is your opportunity to help yourself. The good thing here is that she hasn't died. Okay?” ([19:13]-[19:26]) — Detective Jason Folks

Important Timestamps

[00:05]: The brutal assault on Linda is introduced, details of the attack outlined.
[08:00]: Linda survives, writes Pine’s name in blood, calls for help.
[10:00]: Police respond, encounter with Ernest Pine.
[12:33]–[23:28]: Key police interrogation exchange; Pine denies, then equivocates, evidence mounts.
[24:00]–[25:34]: Physical evidence corroborates everything Linda reported.
[28:30]–[32:00]: The unsolved case of Elena Sanchez Hawkins is introduced and discussed.
[35:05]: Analysis of similarities between Linda and Elena’s cases.
[39:00]: Pine pleads guilty; sentencing explained.
[42:10]: Pine’s release from prison discussed.
[50:19]–[52:14]: The devastating impact of the crimes on survivors and families.
[54:59]: Call to listeners for tips in Elena’s unsolved murder.

Tone & Style Notes

Ashley and Brit maintain their classic empathetic, suspenseful, and advocacy-driven tone—balancing detailed storytelling with outrage at injustice, compassion for survivors, and a relentless drive to expose the truth. The discussion is graphic and unflinching by request of the survivor, but never gratuitous.

Resources

If you have information about Elena Sanchez Hawkins’ murder:
- Contact Kentucky State Police Post 4
- Or email tips@audiochuck.com (the show will forward it)
For survivors of sexual violence:
- Contact RAINN’s National Sexual Abuse Hotline (see show notes)

This summary covers the critical narrative arc, evidentiary highlights, and emotional impact, providing a comprehensive guide for those who want to understand this episode’s weight without listening.

Loading summary...

Transcript

Ashley Flowers (0:00)

Hi, crime junkies. Even though I don't sound like it, I am your host, Ashley Flowers.

Brit (0:04)

And I'm Brit.

Ashley Flowers (0:05)

And even though I'm sick, there is no way I was going to keep me from telling this story this week because this is an urgent warning for the people of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. There is a man living among you who committed one of the most violent, heinous crimes on a neighbor that he barely even knew for a reason no one knows. With her grandchild in the other room, he brutalized this woman and then went home to make supper and watch TV like nothing happened. And the only reason police knew where to go looking for him and the mountain of evidence that proved he committed this crime is because the victim wrote his name in her own blood and somehow managed to survive so she could warn others about this churchgoing father who masqueraded as a good man. This story is going to be hard to hear, but no one else is talking about it. So I want to warn you because some in the community have long wondered whether this survivor was the only victim of Ernest Pine. The neighborhoods that surround Rough River Lake in Kentucky are quiet ones. It's over an hour away from any big city and really gives those nothing bad happens here kind of vibes to those who don't know. But anyone who lived there in August 2008 found out the hard way that evil can reside anywhere. And they learned that lesson at the expense of one woman. A woman who is still so scared of the man who masqueraded as normal that she asked us not to use her real name. So I'll call her Linda. And the day that changed Linda's Life Forever was August 25, 2008. That's when Linda was home babysitting her 22 month old granddaughter who was asleep on the couch. And Linda was next to her just watching TV when she got a knock at her door. It was a little after 7pm at the time the sun was still out, wouldn't be setting for like a couple of more hours that time of year. And in a place like this where you know all your neighbors, Linda didn't even hesitate to open her front door. And it was for a neighborhood Ernest Pine. Now the two exchange friendly greetings and Ernest told Linda that he was there to talk to her husband about a boat dock that either he has or maybe one that he was building and he wanted her husband to work on it because he's an engineer. Now Linda's husband wasn't home and she told Ernest as much, said he would Be back in a half an hour or so. And Ernest seemed happy with that and turned to leave. And as he made that motion, signaling to Linda that their very normal, very safe interaction was over, just when her guard was completely down and she went to close the door, that is the moment he pounced. Ernest shoved the door open and forced his way inside. And before she can even process what is happening, Linda feels the butt of a gun against her head. And she hears Ernest in her ear. He says, turn around, bitch. You are going to die. Every nerve ending is on fire. Fire. And she believes him. Even before he pulls out the 6 inch hunting knife and zip ties, which, by the way, he had to have brought with him. This was planned. And in that moment, she knows that this isn't a situation where she can just appease him, give him what he wants and he'll leave. What he wants is to kill her. And so she fights. He's trying to get her to put her hands behind her back and to tie them with the zip ties, but she won't let him. So he hits her with the gun three times. But Linda keeps fighting. And for a moment, she pulls her arms free and she reaches for the side door that leads to the garage, hoping that she can get her German shepherd that is in there. But right as she is about to open it, Ernest grabs her again. He pulls her back, and this is when he's able to tie her arms. And he tells her that if she tries that again, he will not just kill her, he will also kill her granddaughter, too. Now, Linda knows that that little girl could wake up any second, so she makes a request. She asks Ernest to move her to the small laundry utility space that they have just off the kitchen, so that whatever is about to happen to her won't be witnessed by her granddaughter if she does wake up. And Ernest complies. He drags her to that room and she hears the lock click behind them. Now, Linda is still not giving up. In that moment, she manages to pull her arms out of the zip ties. But Ernest is bigger than her. He overpowers her. He cuts off all of her clothes. And for the next 15 minutes that feel like a lifetime to her, Ernest sexually assaults her with objects that he finds nearby while Linda tries to fight him off. Now, at one point, Linda's able to push him to the ground. And that's when he starts cutting her with his knife. And he tells her that she is not getting out of this room. She has to die because she knows who he is. And that's when he pulls out his gun and aims it right at her head. And she hears it go off. But somehow, by some miracle, the round just zips past her head and hits the wall. So he fires again, but this time it's just the click of the trigger. She hears no shot. The gun jammed. But in that half second that Linda thought she'd been saved, that's when Ernest grabs Linda by the head and slices her throat ear to ear. When Ernest lets her go, her body just falls limp onto this pile of towels. And even though at that moment she is sure she's going to die, she still won't give up. She is pressing the towels against her neck, trying to use them to, like, stop the bleeding as best she can. And she uses every ounce of energy she has, every ounce of willpower that she has left to hold on as long as possible and to hold as still as possible, because she's trying to convince Ernest she's dead. Now it's quiet, so she can hear him unlock the door, leave the room. But then he comes back and he just, like, stands over her. And all of a sudden, Linda feels this searing pain because he's stabbing her. And he does this over and over again. Leaves comes back and stabs her. Leaves comes back and stabs her. And all the while, somehow, she is managing to play dead. Finally, she hears a new sound. Ernest is running the sink in the utility room. Now he thinks she is dead on the floor, and he is washing his knife and washing his hands above her before leaving the room one last time. Then she hears the front door open and close. And even then, she cannot bring herself to move. Like he could come back. And if he does, if he stabs her one more time, that might really be it for her. So for another 10 long minutes, Linda just lies there, bleeding on this heap of towels, wondering if her utility room is going to be the last thing she ever sees. And when she's sure that he's not coming back to clean up anymore. That's when Linda takes her finger and in her own blood, begins to scrawl Ernest's name on the wall. She wants people to know who did this to her. And when she finishes the final e in his last name, Pine. Somehow, maybe it's the adrenaline that's been rushing through her body, or just the drive to protect her granddaughter. At that moment, Linda pushes herself up off the floor and she makes her way to out of the utility room into the kitchen, where she can see her granddaughter in the living room on the couch, who, thank God is still asleep and unharmed. So she makes a beeline for the front door to lock it. And then next to the door is their security system. So she presses the panic button, which triggers a 911 call at 8:12pm ending her hour in hell with Ernest. Now, she has never had to use this button before. She doesn't even know how quickly police will respond or if they will at all. So she goes back to the kitchen and starts making calls while she's still bleeding out. She calls her son in law who lives next door. And then she hangs up and calls her husband and begs him to come home. They both call 9112 to make sure they know to send an ambulance, not just police. And Linda is somehow still conscious and talking when first responders get there at 8:20pm and as more and more people show up and she's loaded into an ambulance, she is able to relay what happened to her and more importantly, who is responsible. So as they airlift her to University Hospital in Louisville for emergency surgery, the sheriff goes to the home of Ernest Pine, just a one minute drive away, positions outside his home and calls his landline. When Ernest answers, the sheriff asks him to come out of his home, but he doesn't say why. Now it's dark now around 9pm and Ernest emerges from his front door blinded by a cruiser's spotlight. And as the sheriff arrests him and place him in the back of a car, a deputy notices that he reeks of alcohol, but he is coherent enough to answer questions. After he's read his Miranda rights, they ask him, is anyone else inside? No, he says, my wife's at a dog show two hours away. Were you at Linda's house earlier tonight? No. But when the sheriff says, like, so if a neighbor told me that they had seen you on the front porch earlier, then you're saying that neighbor would have been lying. And this is when Ernest starts backtracking, saying, well, oh, actually yeah, I did go over there to talk to her husband about a boat dock, but Linda said that he wasn't home, so I just left.