The stranger, later identified as an illegal immigrant of Mexico named Angel Maturino Resendiz, would not accept their pleas to take their money and spare them harm. Instead, he viscously attacked them, first by tying their hands and feet and ordering them face down on the ground. Holly helplessly watched as her boyfriend Chris was struck first by Resendiz with a 50lb rock, gruesomely taking his young life. Once the killer finished with Chris, he began attacking Holly. Resendiz stabbed Holly, raped her, then repeatedly beat her with a wood object both in the face and on the back of her head. Leaving her unconscious, Resendiz fled the scene.

Holly Dunn regained consciousness, and miraculously gained enough strength to walk to a nearby street for help. Having been left for dead, Holly narrowly escaped her attacker’s intentions and found a home from which to seek help. In the home near the scene of the attack, at 2:49am, a man assisted Holly and called 911. She was taken to the University of Kentucky hospital where she stayed for five days, sadly missing Chris’ funeral and wrought with post-traumatic distress. Holly suffered a broken jaw, which left her mouth wired shut for a month, a broken eye socket, and numerous cuts to her face and head. But much more than physical harm, Holly’s life was changed forever. Watch more about this event in the 48 Hours – Live to Tell featuring Holly’s story.

Holly understands that she may always be in the healing process from this dark day in 1997. However, she is determined to grow from the experience by educating others to hopefully avoid such an ordeal.