Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories

Episode: Police Shot By A Mass Murderer, She Survived

Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Guest: Cheryl “Nietzsche” O’Connell, Former Richmond, Virginia Police Officer
Date: December 29, 2025

Overview

In this gripping episode, retired Baltimore Police Sergeant and host John J. Wiley interviews Cheryl Nietzsche O’Connell, a former Richmond, Virginia police officer who miraculously survived being shot in the head by a mass murderer. Through candid conversation, Cheryl recounts the chilling events of that night, her physical and emotional recovery, the aftermath—including her shocking treatment by the city—and how her life has pivoted toward advocacy and helping others. The episode offers a rare, firsthand perspective on trauma, resilience, and the realities of policing that go beyond the headlines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Cheryl Nietzsche – The "Miracle Girl"

[03:37]

• Cheryl recounts the night she was ambushed and shot at close range by Kenneth Wayne Woodfin, a man on a multi-victim killing spree.
  • Quote: “My doctors called me miracle girl. I was shot from 3 to 5ft away with a .357 Magnum… The bullet was aimed for my temple. Should have taken me out… I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, wearing the wrong clothing. And I represented everything and everyone that he blamed for his marriage having failed.” — Cheryl ([03:37])
• She explains her survival in clinical detail, having sustained a bullet wound through her face and neck, yet never losing consciousness.
  • A bystander rendered lifesaving first aid, applying pressure and using her police radio to call for help.

2. The Immediate Aftermath & Struggle for Survival

[05:52]

• Cheryl describes not realizing she had been shot as she lost vision and then regained it, only to find herself in an ambulance.

  • Quote: “My sergeant is in the back of the ambulance with me. He looks like he’s seen a ghost… I’m like, what happened? He’s like, you got shot in the head? And I’m like, no kidding.” — Cheryl ([05:52])

• She discusses how trauma memories are vivid and long-lasting.

3. Enduring Trauma & Facing Parole Boards

[08:00]

• Cheryl must relive her experience every 1–3 years to argue before the parole board, seeking to keep her attacker imprisoned.
  • Quote: “Every one to three [years] I have to rip those wounds wide open and relive the events of that night as I go to the parole board… I will have no closure until he, hopefully behind bars, dies of natural causes.” — Cheryl ([08:00])

4. Being "The Only One" & Recovery Back Into Policing

[08:42]

• At only 24 and with just two and a half years on the force (having relocated from Boston), Cheryl was the only female Richmond Police officer ever shot in the line of duty. She returned to work on patrol six months after the shooting.

5. The Night of the Shooting: The Killer's Spree and Encounter

[13:04–17:23]

• Cheryl shares how Woodfin, already on a days-long killing spree, approached her earlier that night under the guise of flirtation before ambushing her.
  • Details emerge of a cryptic, threatening note referencing “a marriage is social and holy,” delivered just moments before the shooting.
  • Quote: “I put my head down and I read the first line again. And he had scaled back along the side of the building… and that’s why I didn’t see him. And I had brought my head back up after reading that first line again. A marriage is social and holy. And that’s why the bullet… didn’t go in my temple.” — Cheryl ([13:04])
  • The note was signed “Nat Turner” and was later revealed as a threat.

6. The Killer’s Crimes Unfolded

[21:04]

• Woodfin’s spree included murdering his wife (who was trying to separate from him partly due to his criminal activity), her sister-in-law, and his best friend. He also ambushed another deputy and arrived at the Marriott seeking to kill a specific officer who was not present, ultimately shooting Cheryl instead.
  • Quote: “He kills both [his wife’s sister-in-law and best friend], then he heads back to Ashland… pulls up to a red light next to a Hanover County deputy... So it misses his head and hits him in the shoulder and the arm… Woodfin bails out of the car and into the woods.” — Cheryl ([23:13])
• The killer then turned himself in to a family friend, a lieutenant, the next day.

7. Reflections on the Culture and Dangers of Policing

[28:02]

• The ambush occurred at what was considered a low-risk, secondary-duty post—a hotel, during the University of Richmond’s homecoming and a Ministers' convention—at a time (1984) when attacks against police were rare in Richmond.

8. The City's Betrayal and Community Support

[31:17–33:34]

• Cheryl’s recovery was not just physical: the city initially attempted not to cover her medical costs, prompting legal action and community intervention.
  • Quote: “Initially, the city of Richmond, they’re self-insured. They did not want to cover my medical bills under workers comp… Ironically, they had me followed by a private investigator for three days. I’m like, really? Did you not see me on life support? You think I faked a gunshot wound to the head?” — Cheryl ([31:17])
• Strong support from the community and police union eventually resulted in proper coverage, but only after additional stress and advocacy.

9. Returning to (and Leaving) Police Work

[34:45–36:13]

• Despite expectations that injured officers would be protected or promoted, Cheryl was reassigned to patrol—including the same area connected to her assailant.
  • She later left the force and pivoted toward law and then social work, focusing on advocacy for the disabled and bridging community and police relations through Richmond United Law Enforcement.

10. Coping with Trauma and Victim Advocacy

[36:13–38:22]

• Cheryl uses her experience to advocate for others, both as a social worker and through direct community engagement.
  • Quote: “Now I work with people with disabilities, and I help them find employment. I make sure that their human rights are not violated. I advocate for them, and I absolutely love what I do… I also run Richmond United Law Enforcement… designed to bring the community together with law enforcement.” ([36:13])
• She maintains a dark sense of humor about her ordeal—an insight into police culture’s coping strategies.

11. The Ongoing Parole Battle & Broken Systems

[38:22–38:59]

• The parole system means Woodfin comes up for release every few years, retraumatizing his victims and their families.
  • Quote: “Every couple of years, you have to go to the parole board and face this guy… He was convicted prior to parole being abolished for violent offenders, which recently here is another joke.” — (Summary of segment [38:22–38:59])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If I retire, then he may as well have killed me because he’s taken away my life… Oh, no, I'm coming back." — Cheryl Nietzsche ([31:17])
• "You live through getting shot in the head. You see things a whole lot differently… what are they gonna do, shoot me in the head? And can you do it on the right side? I’ll have matching holes." — Cheryl Nietzsche ([36:13])
• "The biggest offenders are cities, counties, and state government with their own first responders. The lack of taking care of them is mind boggling." — John J. Wiley ([32:37])
• "That community support was a big part of why I came back. My community was behind me, and that's why the city decided to do the right thing." — Cheryl Nietzsche ([36:13])

Key Timestamps

• [03:37]: Cheryl explains the shooting and immediate aftermath.
• [08:00]: Describes repeatedly facing her attacker’s parole hearings.
• [11:56]: Details about lasting physical injuries (irreparable hearing loss).
• [13:04]: The killer’s prior approach and the threatening note.
• [21:04]: Recap of Woodfin’s multi-day murder spree and pursuit.
• [31:17]: How the city initially failed to support Cheryl post-injury.
• [36:13]: Transition to social work, community advocacy, and humor as coping.
• [38:22]: The pain of facing the parole system on repeat.

Takeaways

• Cheryl Nietzsche’s story is one of extraordinary survival, ongoing trauma, and resilience—representing both the best and worst of the policing experience: the risks officers face, community solidarity, bureaucratic failures, and the drive to find renewed purpose.
• The episode starkly exposes flaws in how governments treat injured officers, the unpredictability of police work, and how individual officers (especially women in the 1980s) were often let down by institutions, but lifted by their communities.
• Nietzsche’s pivot to social work and victim advocacy demonstrates the possibility of life after devastating trauma and highlights the importance of community, both in crisis and recovery.