I had to go back and edit the last couple of sentences on the 2nd installment. It's been a while since I have looked at my police statement the afternoon of my escape. It was when I checked to be sure I had the correct details that I saw we were headed to Macon on I-16 and not Savannah. My sister and brother in law live just north of Macon, so my mind started thinking that maybe I would be able to escape and go to them. But, those dreams were dashed when he took I-75 South toward Florida.
It was starting to get dark and he was getting tired. He would stop at a rest area to actually rest some, then would get back on the interstate and drive further. I was praying that there would be a lot of people at the rest areas and I could get away from this nightmare. But, he always parked as far away from people as he could. At one of these stops, I was forced to go to the bathroom out in the field away from the public. It was mostly dark, even though there were many lights there. He just watched me from the car and of course he threatened me before I got out. This may sound crazy to most people, but I was able to sleep some off and on. As I said earlier, I am a faithful follower of Christ and firmly believed that He was with me! I probably prayed during these hours more than I had ever prayed in such a short amount of time. At one of the rest areas, I had asked the Lord to please be with me. It was at that moment that I felt Him in the car with me. God was physically holding me in His hand! I felt pressure and warmth on my back. My Heavenly Father has very BIG hands! His hand covered my entire back! I felt such peace and that is why I was able to sleep without fear!
Back on the road again, he chose to take I-10 toward Jacksonville, Florida. My captor told me that he would let me go in that city. We got to Jacksonville and were on Beach Blvd and were looking for a Pizza Hut. It was early in the morning of April 7th around 7:00am. He pulled into a shopping center near a phone. At this time, he instructed me to put my seat in the fully reclined position and pretend that I was asleep. At approximately 8:30am, he exited the car and used the phone. I was beginning to let fear creep in. The call was to a man whom this criminal had supposedly been writing to from the jail where he had escaped. I was told that this man was with the Mafia and was going to help him leave the country. My fear was that I would be a dead girl as soon as this connection was made. I know that mafia people don't leave live witnesses. Thankfully, the phone had been disconnected! I was thrilled! I just knew that now he would keep his word and let me go!! What was I thinking????!!!! Now, he just had another problem! Now, he had to decide what to do with me all on his own! I begged him to let me go until I thought he would harm me, then became silent. He told me that he would let me go without hurting me if I didn't do anything stupid. Also, he said he would leave my car and they would find it. Sadly, he didn't seem to know just how to do that. He drove around a while and finally decided that he wanted to see the beach. He had never seen it before and he picked now to see it. Of course we just sat in the car and looked at it. After a time, he decided to leave. He just found another parking place to sit a while. He seemed to be uneasy with having to deal with me without help, so I decided to help him. I came up with a couple of plans. Plan #1: drive into the country away from everyone and get out and let me have the car. I promised to not tell anyone about what had happened. .......he didn't go for that. Plan #2: drive into the country away from everyone and let me get out and he can have the car. You guessed it! He didn't go for that either! I tried real hard to think of something else as he started driving again.
He found Highway A1A south toward St. Augustine. When we got there, I told him we needed fuel. My car was a diesel and back then, diesel was hard to find. He drove around looking but didn't find anything right off. He was really tired and had been drinking beer. Not a good combination for having a clear head. He took Highway #1 north back toward Jacksonville and then onto I-95 South. All the while we're looking for diesel. For some strange reason, he got on Highway #16 back to St. Augustine. Surely, he didn't realize that we were headed right back to the same place we had been before? I was praying for the chance to escape. I was ecstatic to be going back into the city where I could get help. I felt this was a sign that I would be rescued. There were many people on the streets of this city and I had a sense that this was good for me. Woefully, no opportunity presented itself for a quick get away. I was deeply saddened as he left the city, for I truly believed this was the place I could break free from this madman. As he headed south on A1A, I realized that we would not find any stations on this barren road and asked him to please turn around so we could find diesel. Gratefully, he listened and turned around. God granted favor and showed me a sign for diesel. Three times in the same city had to mean something, right?
A little reminder: The first time he stopped, he put me in the trunk. The second time, he made me lay my seat down and pretend I was asleep. After that stop, I had been talking and praying. Slowly and methodically I repositioned myself to have my hands in my lap instead of under me. I moved in such slight movements, that he didn't notice the minor changes. I was building confidence with him, hoping that he wasn't aware of my doing this. I wanted to be prepared to move at the first chance! Plus, I remembered that even though the doors were locked, I could open the front door with the handle without first unlocking the lock.
I told him I was getting hungry. It was between noon and 1:00. At the Colonial Station, there was a woman attendant. Remember the time when people actually pumped your gas for you? He never turned the car off while she was pumping and he put his hand on my shoulder and kept it there saying not to try anything. I reminded him that he wanted cigarettes. He kept tapping my shoulder, reminding me not to try anything. When she came back to the window to be paid, he turned slightly toward her and as he did, his hand moved from my shoulder. This was my chance!! I quickly reached for the handle of my door. I slung it open! As I was leaping out of the car, he reached over and grabbed my sweater vest! I struggled to get free and rolled down the side of the door toward the back of the car. I was screaming to the lady!!! HELP ME!!! Running toward her, these words came tumbling out....this man is escaped from prison and he kidnapped me!!! I am from Georgia! Please help me!! As he screeched off, she called the police!
Stay tuned! The next post should come later this week!
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