Sword and scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences.

Listener discretion is advised.

I knew I was going to die, but I didn't know what he was going to do to me before he killed me and that scared me most of all.

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 139 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real.

Yeah. A show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. A lot of us dream about what we would do at the right moment, if given the opportunity,

throwing the first pitch at a major league ballgame, or giving an acceptance speech at the

Academy Awards. It's often fun to think of how we would act so much better than some dumb

celebrity, if only given that golden opportunity. Only those of us

who worry a lot, who perhaps have an issue with our own levels of anxiety, think of the inverse

of that. What would we do? How would we act if we were put in the worst case scenario, the most

horrifying of situations? Would we be able to keep

our wits about us and escape the situation? Or would we panic, freeze up, and catatonicly

await our fate? Today, you will hear the story of a young woman who, despite all odds,

was able to somehow escape the

clutches of a serial killer. January 18, 1986.

It's just after 10.30 p.m. at the Saddleback Community College campus in Orange County, California.

23-year-old fine arts major Robin Brandley has just finished her shift as a volunteer usher for a sold-out piano concert and reception.

The lights in the parking lot, allegedly on an automatic timer, had switched off at 9 p.m.

Lit only by the night sky, Branley continues her path towards her car, no doubt sensing the change in the air, that someone is watching.

She stops and turns.

This is when she sees a figure silhouetted in darkness. For a moment, she says nothing.

Then, looking down, she sees the man is holding a hunting knife,

...