Podcast Summary: The Miracle Files – "The Night the Desert Turned Deadly"
Episode 60 | Radio America | February 16, 2026
Episode Overview
In this gripping episode, hosts and sisters Emily Jones and Holly Worthington recount the miraculous survival of Brody Young, a Utah state ranger ambushed near Moab in 2010. More than just a harrowing tale of violence and resilience, the episode explores themes of divine guidance, the will to survive, and profound forgiveness, offering listeners an inspiring alternative to darker true-crime narratives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Foreboding and Preparation
- Brody Young experienced an intense premonition to "get fit," prompting him to dramatically improve his physical condition months before his attack.
- Brody Young (02:19): "It was a really strong impression. Get fit."
- [02:19-02:32]
- Hosts discuss how following such inner promptings may be life-saving, emphasizing the importance of heeding intuition.
2. The Night of the Attack
-
[03:21-06:32]
- Brody, during a routine patrol at Poison Spider Mesa, encounters a man (using the name "Michael Orr") in a parked car.
- As Brody turns to leave, the man opens fire, shooting Brody multiple times at close range and nearly killing him.
- Despite being shot nine times—including wounds to both arms, his back, and torso—Brody fights back, manages to return fire, and engages in a tense cat-and-mouse exchange around his truck.
- His bulletproof vest stops several shots but does not prevent life-threatening injuries.
-
Brody Young (07:28): "I was presented with the choice. You can either lie down or you can get up and fight. And I had never trained to die."
- [07:28]
3. Miraculous Survival
- [12:55-17:24]
- Left alone and bleeding, Brody experiences a vivid vision of his family, which gives him the will to crawl to his truck and call for help.
- Brody credits this mental image—seeing the faces of his wife and three children—as his lifeline.
- Brody Young (14:04): "I want to be a dad still. I want to live with them, grow up with them, be a part of their lives."
- [14:04]
- He reaches his radio and calmly communicates his situation.
- Brody Young (15:52): "I take a breath, and then I say, 'price 2 Alpha 69 was my number at the time. I'm at Poison Spider Mesa trailhead. I've been shot. Please hurry.'"
- [15:52]
4. Medical Ordeal
-
[17:24-20:28]
- Brody uses techniques he read about—slowing his breathing to preserve life—while waiting for rescue.
- Paramedics drill into his bone to administer fluids because his veins have collapsed—a procedure so painful it eclipsed even the gunshot wounds.
- Brody Young (19:19): "Here I am, shot nine times, right, looking at death's door. And this pain was indescribable. They usually do it on unconscious people."
- [19:19]
-
Doctors state that six out of the nine wounds were, by standard medical definition, fatal. Yet Brody survives, a testament he and the hosts attribute to both faith and the physical preparation he felt divinely prompted to undertake.
5. Family, Faith, and Miraculous Assurance
- [20:28-22:48]
- Brody's wife, Wendy, receives a spiritual assurance that Brody will survive as she rushes to the hospital, bringing her peace in a chaotic ER situation.
- Brody Young (21:50): "She’s just told that Brody’s going to live, he’s going to be okay. And so she walked into the hospital knowing this."
- [21:50]
- Brody's wife, Wendy, receives a spiritual assurance that Brody will survive as she rushes to the hospital, bringing her peace in a chaotic ER situation.
6. Brody’s Recovery and Return to Life
- [23:45-24:37]
- After weeks in a coma, including a medical emergency where his heart raced for three days, Brody awakes.
- Doctors confirm that his improved fitness was instrumental in his survival:
- Brody Young (24:31): "Doctor said, had I not had the girth or the shape I was in, I wouldn’t be here today."
- [24:31]
7. Forgiveness and Closure
- [25:34-27:48]
- Brody details his struggle not just with physical trauma, but with fear and anxiety, sharing that forgiveness of his attacker was essential to his spiritual and mental healing.
- Brody Young (25:34): "First I had to forgive him. And this was really crucial for me to move on."
- [25:34]
- His attacker, Lance Arellano, disappears after the shooting. The search for him becomes a years-long manhunt.
- Five years later, two local brothers, inspired by determination and perhaps providence, discover Arellano’s remains. This finally brings closure to Brody and the community.
- Brody Young (31:02): "Two local kids... opened a map... searched... found this green waterproof bag... led down into this crack... and it was, you know, unfortunately, bones in a sleeping bag."
- [31:02]
- Brody details his struggle not just with physical trauma, but with fear and anxiety, sharing that forgiveness of his attacker was essential to his spiritual and mental healing.
8. Grace, Resilience, and the Nature of Miracles
- Reflection on Forgiveness: Brody expresses genuine empathy for his attacker and hopes to “meet again” in a place where the violence between them will “be like water under a bridge.”
- Brody Young (27:15): "Honestly, I don't think at that point... he was just in a rough time in his life, and I happened to be the one who crossed it, and... we really did find forgiveness."
- [27:15]
- Brody is now back to full duty as a ranger, cherishing his every day as a gift.
- On Miracles:
- Brody Young (33:39): “Miracles are to help jumpstart our belief in a greater, higher calling, a higher purpose. Someone who’s watching out for us and someone who cares for us. So that’s what miracles are for.”
- [33:39]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Survival:
- "I had never trained to die." — Brody Young [07:28]
- On Willpower:
- "I want to be a dad still. I want to live with them, grow up with them, be a part of their lives." — Brody Young [14:04]
- On Calm in Chaos:
- "I can't sound hysterical. So I think about what I'm gonna say. I take a breath, and then I say... I've been shot. Please hurry." — Brody Young [15:52]
- On Forgiveness:
- "First I had to forgive him. And this was really crucial for me to move on." — Brody Young [25:34]
- On Miracles:
- "Miracles are to help jumpstart our belief in a greater, higher calling, a higher purpose. Someone who's watching out for us and someone who cares for us. So that's what miracles are for." — Brody Young [33:39]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- Early Premonition / "Get Fit": [02:19–02:32]
- Ambush Begins: [05:28–06:32]
- Brody’s Will to Survive: [07:28]
- Vision of Family: [14:04–14:43]
- Radio for Help: [15:52]
- Medical Ordeal (Bone Drill): [19:19]
- Assurance for Brody’s Wife: [21:50]
- Return from Coma: [24:31]
- Forgiveness for Attacker: [25:34]
- Discovery of Attacker’s Body: [31:02]
- Understanding of Miracles: [33:39]
Host Reflections & Takeaways
- Emily & Holly reflect on divine guidance and how intuition or spiritual prompting can have real-life impacts in critical moments.
- On personal perseverance and love: The vision of his family, and Brody’s love for them, becomes a powerful metaphor for how love can help us overcome even the darkest situations.
- On the value of physical preparedness: They discuss in detail how Brody’s fitness directly contributed to his ability to survive, referencing medical explanations for greater resilience in trauma cases.
- On closure and emotional healing: The story’s final act, as the community and Brody receive closure through the recovery of Arellano’s remains, is framed as a continuation of the miraculous process.
Final Words & Brody’s Message
“Miracles are to help jumpstart our belief in a greater, higher calling, a higher purpose. Someone who’s watching out for us and someone who cares for us. So that’s what miracles are for.”
— Brody Young [33:39]
Recommended for anyone seeking hope and inspiration—this episode of The Miracle Files is a profound reminder of resilience, the power of love, and the grace made possible through forgiveness.
