Safety and Awareness

As the victim of a violent attack, Holly knows the importance of staying safe and being aware at all times.

Holly feels her personal story can help create awareness of potential dangers around us. She discusses trusting your instincts and other survival techniques and thoughts. Holly reminds us that with strong presence of mind and awareness of potentially harmful situations, some tragedies can be overcome and some may even be prevented. Understanding that every situation is different and each reaction will be unique, Holly explains that awareness of your potential dangers can promote a safer life.

Holly is trained in RAD (Rape Aggression Defense Course) and believes in The Gift of Fear : Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence, by Gavin DeBecker.

By understanding Holly’s story and her subsequent journey through the healing process, we may learn from her and how we can use practical tips in an attempt to avoid a similar situation.

Holly’s Attack:

On August 29, 1997, Holly Dunn and her boyfriend Chris Maier were enjoying an evening close to the campus of the University of Kentucky. Engaged in conversation alongside a railway line, the two began to walk back toward a party they had attended earlier in the evening when suddenly they were approached by a man with a weapon resembling a screwdriver or ice pick. 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.

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.




		Safety and Awareness As the victim of a violent attack, Holly knows the importance of staying safe and being aware at all times. Holly feels her personal story can help create awareness of potential dangers around us. She discusses trusting your instincts and other survival techniques and thoughts. Holly reminds us that with strong presence of mind and awareness of potentially harmful situations, some tragedies can be overcome and some may even be prevented. Understanding that every situation is different and each reaction will be unique, Holly explains that awareness of your potential dangers can promote a safer life. Holly is trained in RAD (Rape Aggression Defense Course) and believes in The Gift of Fear : Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence, by Gavin DeBecker. By understanding Holly’s story and her subsequent journey through the healing process, we may learn from her and how we can use practical tips in an attempt to avoid a similar situation. Holly’s Attack: On August 29, 1997, Holly Dunn and her boyfriend Chris Maier were enjoying an evening close to the campus of the University of Kentucky. Engaged in conversation alongside a railway line, the two began to walk back toward a party they had attended earlier in the evening when suddenly they were approached by a man with a weapon resembling a screwdriver or ice pick. 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. 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.