True Crime with Kendall Rae – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Teen Attacked Outside Library Survives & Her Story Will Amaze You: The Case of Queena Phu
Podcast: True Crime with Kendall Rae (Mile Higher Media & Audioboom Studios)
Date: February 26, 2026
Subject: The survival, resilience, and ongoing recovery of Queena Phu after a brutal 2008 attack outside her local library, and the remarkable support from her family and community.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kendall Rae explores the harrowing and ultimately inspiring story of Queena Phu, who survived an unfathomable assault at 18 but was left with severe, lifelong disabilities. Rae highlights Queena’s courage, her family’s unwavering support, and the ripple of kindness and advocacy her case has inspired. The episode balances the details of the crime and its aftermath with a strong focus on victim empathy, community response, and the quest for justice.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Queena Phu’s Early Life and Family Resilience

• Kendall sets the stage by introducing Queena, describing her as a bright, kind, and involved teenager (10:19).
• Provides significant context about her mother, Vanna, who survived near-impossible odds as a Vietnamese refugee:

  “When Vanna was put on that boat in 1981, she was given a 1% chance of surviving and making it to Malaysia. And not only did she survive, but she eventually came to America and started the life I imagine her father wanted for her all along.” (03:34)

• The story of Vanna's resilience is threaded directly into Queena's story, illustrating "where she gets that willpower and survival strength." (03:50)

2. Queena’s Personality, Dreams, and Achievements

• A snapshot of Queena’s life pre-attack:
  • Described as “happy… incredibly big heart… always smiling… loved making people laugh… studious but not nerdy.” (06:00)
  • Deeply compassionate, volunteering at hospice, active in student government and “Best Buddies” program.
  • Had just turned 18, on the honor roll, headed to University of Florida on a full scholarship (06:54).
  • Excited for upcoming moments: prom and graduation.
  • Memorable quote:

    “I genuinely believe that above all else, Queena was simply just a normal teenage girl. She loved shopping and ice cream and texting her friends and she was always late to things and her room was always messy…” (06:50)

3. The Attack – April 24, 2008

• Queena left work late, stopped at the Bloomingdale Regional Library to return books. Noted a “weird looking guy” as she arrived.
• Was on the phone with Rachel (friend) for safety – a conversation cut short by sudden screams, then silence (12:04).
• Rachel and friends/family sprung into action, racing to the scene.
• Priscilla (another friend) arrived first, found Queena’s car running, phone in pieces, blood on the ground. They eventually located Queena in a ditch behind the library, her body severely battered, and called 911 (13:45).
• Powerful description:

  “Imagine pulling up to that scene, hoping for the best and seeing that... police actually had to physically hold [her mother] back from running to her daughter, which, God, it’s just an experience that no mother should ever have to have.” (14:35)

4. Attack Details and Aftermath

• Queena was stabbed, strangled, sexually assaulted, left with catastrophic injuries, ant bites from being left near an ant hill (21:36).
• Family confronted unimaginable trauma at her bedside; Anna (her sister) had to assist with the rape kit—a moment Kendall describes as “another level of trauma” (21:55).
• When Queena first woke from coma:

  “She was asking why she couldn’t see and if the police caught the guy who did it, but they hadn’t yet… She kept asking if she was still going to be able to make it to prom.” (23:06)

• Her condition worsened; seizures led to a medically induced coma (23:36).
• Investigation challenges: over 100 sex offenders nearby, but a crucial tip (a student seeing Kendrick Morris at the library) pointed detectives to the perpetrator (24:48).

5. The Perpetrator: Kendrick Morris

• 16-year-old with prior criminal history, already responsible for another sexual assault at age 15 (30:51).
• Arrested based on fingerprints, DNA evidence, and eyewitness testimony.
• After the brutal attack, nonchalantly went to McDonald’s for Happy Meals and to Walmart, as seen on surveillance:

  “What kind of sick person would be able to go from doing something like that to sitting down at Mickey D’s and eating two Happy Meals?” (28:07)

6. The Legal Outcome

• Found guilty on all charges; originally sentenced to two 65-year concurrent terms.
• Attempted sentence reduction due to changing laws about minors, but ultimately received a life sentence “and that new sentence is exactly what he deserves. It’s also what Queena’s family thinks he deserves…” (32:45).
• Notable quote:

  “After nearly killing Queena, he went about his night like nothing had happened… He was 15 when he attacked the daycare worker… people … were surprised to see that a teenager was the one responsible. People were actually shocked.” (30:51)

7. Queena’s Recovery, Family, and Community Support

• Doctors predicted a “vegetative state,” but her family refused to give up, moving her to specialized rehab (34:25).
• Friends showed immense support; Priscilla skipped her own prom to sit with Queena in the hospital (31:27).
• Small signs of improvement—her sister believed Queena could hear her before staff did.
• After years of therapy, Queena is able to stand and walk with assistance, attempts vocalization, still beams with happiness (36:32).
• Care costs upward of $70,000/year, mostly not covered by insurance (40:30).
• Her mother Vanna’s devotion and advocacy are a major theme; Vanna also authored a memoir to encourage others (“The Life She Once Knew”).
• Memorable moment:

  “I truly have to say these images fall into my top 10 most inspirational photos I’ve ever seen. After knowing what she went through, Queena is in physical therapy… and you can just tell that every single person that she works with believes in her and that her strength and positivity just shines through.” (36:32)

8. Community Kindness and a Prom Reclaimed

• Years later, Queena finally goes to prom, escorted by a friend (Derek) as his date:

  “Queena planned on attending her Senior Prom in 2008. Then came a routine trip to the Bloomingdale Library. ...When she was asked to the prom, a part of her life was returned to her. You and I take it for granted. It’s called normalcy.” – Anna, her sister (39:00)

• The whole community makes it special—hair, makeup, dress alterations, and a motorcycle club escort (39:47).
• Derek becomes a fixture in her life, even taking her as his date to Anna’s wedding:

  “I always love seeing people that, you know who have gone through, such tragedies but find, I would say, the rainbow in the storm.” (39:47)

9. Closing Reflections & Inspiring Legacy

• Rae emphasizes Queena’s identity as “the Bloomingdale Library Survivor,” not a victim (41:00).
• Highlights ongoing need for support—listeners can donate via joinquina.com or purchase Vanna’s memoir.
• Notes her own foundation (Higher Hope) will be reaching out with a grant for Queena’s care.
• Rae provides broader reflections on hope, survival, and the power of kindness:

  “...I am totally in awe of everything that Queena has overcome. For a while there she was being referred to as the Bloomingdale Library Victim. But over the years that title has rightfully changed the Bloomingdale Library Survivor. And she is truly the definition of a survivor.” (41:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On survival and hope:

  “Her mind and her heart are 100 present and positive in everything that she does… her way of communicating right now is through her facial expressions and sound, specifically laughter, which I think is really beautiful.” – Kendall Rae (37:25)

• On the power of friendship:

  “Priscilla even skipped prom night to come and sit by her side in the hospital, which is just so beautiful, which just makes me so emotional to think about.” – Kendall Rae (31:28)

• On family resilience:

  “Anna and Vanna refused. Queena may not have been able to see, walk or talk or eat, but her mind was alive and they weren’t going to give up on her.” (34:25)

• On justice:

  “Kendrick Morris was sentenced to two concurrent 65 year sentences. ...That new sentence is exactly what he deserves. …her family thinks he deserves.” (32:45)

• On Queena finally attending prom:

  “55 motorcycle riders provided the escort for Queena and her date. And while she couldn’t see the warm reception, she certainly could hear it.” – Reporter (39:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Queena’s Family & Early Life: 03:36–06:30
• High School Achievements & Personality: 06:00–10:00
• The Night of the Attack: 10:19–14:00
• Crime Scene & Aftermath: 14:00–18:24
• Hospital, Trauma, Family Response: 21:24–23:36
• Investigation & Break in the Case: 23:36–26:00
• Arrest & Creeping Normalcy of Perpetrator: 26:00–29:00
• Connection to Prior Crime: 30:51–31:27
• Legal Process, Sentencing, and Closure: 32:45–34:00
• Queena’s Recovery & Family Devotion: 34:25–40:30
• Prom, Community Kindness, and Derek: 39:00–41:00
• Reflection on Hope, Survival, and Sharing Stories: 41:00–42:30

Tone and Style

Kendall Rae delivers this episode with warmth and compassion, prioritizing Queena’s and her family’s experiences at every turn. The language is gentle yet explicit enough to honor the severity of the crime, consistently focused on victim respect, resilience, and the impact of collective kindness.

Conclusion

This episode of “True Crime with Kendall Rae” is a profound tribute to the human spirit. It presents Queena Phu not as a statistic, but as a vibrant young woman forever changed by violence yet continually uplifted by her family, friends, and community. Listeners come away not merely with outrage at the crime, but deeply moved by Queena’s perseverance and the ways ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference.

Learn more or support Queena’s ongoing care: joinquina.com
Read Vanna’s memoir: The Life She Once Knew