Rhonda Stapley
Rhonda Stapley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rhonda Stapley 1955 (age 70–71) Salt Lake City, Utah, U. S. |
| Other names | Rhonda Goddings |
| Education | University of Utah |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2016 – present |
| Children | 2 |
Rhonda Stapley (born 1955) is an American author, retired pharmacist, and public speaker recognized for surviving a 1974 attack by serial killer Ted Bundy.[1] After maintaining silence for nearly 42 years, she published her memoir in 2016, detailing the assault and her lifelong battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[2][3]
Early life and education
Stapley grew up in the Latter-day Saint (LDS) faith.[4] In 1974, she was a 21-year-old pharmacy student at the University of Utah.[5] On the day of her encounter, she had just finished a dental appointment and was waiting for a bus in downtown Salt Lake City near Liberty Park.[6]
The 1974 Encounter
On October 11, 1974, a man in a tan Volkswagen Beetle offered her a ride.[5] He introduced himself as "Ted," a first-year law student, and appeared non-threatening.[5] Stapley noted the passenger door handle was missing but assumed it was just an old car.[5] Bundy claimed he had a quick errand "near the zoo," but drove past Hogle Zoo into a secluded area of Emigration Canyon.[5] After parking in an isolated grove, Bundy leaned in as if to kiss her, then whispered, "I'm going to kill you".[5] He strangled her into unconsciousness and spent hours raping and torturing her, repeatedly reviving her only to choke her again.[5]
When Bundy turned away to retrieve something (likely a weapon) from his car, Stapley fled.[5] Despite her clothing being entangled, she fell into a mountain stream that swept her away.[5] She eventually hiked 10 to 12 miles back to campus in wet, freezing clothes.[5]
The Aftermath and "Second Silence"
Stapley kept the attack a secret for 42 years.[5] Her silence was driven by cultural stigma as a young LDS woman, she feared being judged by her community for losing her "virtue".[5] Stapley did not report the attack at the time, citing feelings of deep shame, fear of being ostracized by her religious community, and a desire to avoid being defined as a "rape victim".[5] A year later, she recognized Bundy on the news following his arrest for the Carol DaRonch kidnapping.[5] She suffered intense guilt, believing that reporting him earlier might have saved subsequent victims.[5]
She attempted to "push it down" to live a normal life, becoming a professional pharmacist and raising two children.[5]
Career
Stapley graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1976.[5] She worked as a professional pharmacist for decades and is also credited as an inventor.[5]
Breakdown and Recovery
In 2011, a workplace bullying incident involving a yelling supervisor served as a PTSD trigger.[7] The encounter echoed Bundy's voice, leading to a breakdown characterized by insomnia, night terrors, and flashbacks.[8] Seeking help, she found an online pen pal—another woman who had a brush with Bundy—who encouraged her to seek therapy and write her story.[5]
Personal life
Stapley is married and has two daughters and has several grandchildren.[5] She lives in the Salt Lake City area with her family and advocates for victims of sexual assault and trauma.[5]
Publications and media
In 2016, she published her memoir, I Survived Ted Bundy: The Attack, Escape & PTSD That Changed My Life.[9] The book features a foreword by Ann Rule, who verified that Stapley's account aligned perfectly with the known FBI timeline of Bundy's movements in 1974.[10]
She has shared her story on ABC's 20/20, Dr. Phil, and the Reelz docuseries Ted Bundy: The Survivors.[11]
In popular culture
- She was portrayed by actress Tiffany Shepis in the 2002 film Ted Bundy.
See also
References
- ^ "Utah woman says she was attacked by Ted Bundy and lived to tell about it". WGXA News. June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Utah woman says she was attacked by Ted Bundy and lived to tell about it". Komo News. December 17, 2016.
- ^ "Suspected Ted Bundy Victim Recounts Her Harrowing Escape". Oxygen. October 6, 2020. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "Rhonda Stapley: I SURVIVED TED BUNDY". Weller Books Works. November 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Ted Bundy Attack Survivor Explains Why She Kept Silent – and Why She's Talking Now". People Magazine. May 13, 2016.
- ^ "Victim: "I survived Ted Bundy"". ABC4 Utah.
- ^ "Utah woman says she was attacked by Ted Bundy and lived to tell about it". KUTV. August 24, 2016.
- ^ "Utah woman says she was attacked by Ted Bundy and lived to tell about it". Fox San Antonio. September 4, 2016.
- ^ "Ted Bundy survivor talks about healing at Salt Lake City book signing". Deseret News. February 17, 2019.
- ^ "Ted Bundy tried to kill me, Utah woman says 40 years later". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Utah woman says she was attacked by Ted Bundy and lived to tell about it". KSNV. May 1, 2016.