Hi, I Survived listeners.

I'm Marissa Pinson.

And if you're enjoying this show, I just want to remind you that episodes of I Survived,

as well as the A&E Classic Podcast, Cold Case Files, City Confidential, and American Justice,

are all available ad-free on the new A&E Crime and Investigation Channel on Apple Podcasts and Apple Plus

for just $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. And now onto the show.

This episode contains subject matter that may be disturbing some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

I was absolutely terrified. I knew in my core that he was here to kill me.

Real people.

I see the white of these two bones, my leg bones,

and the ends are just shattered.

And beneath them, there's this spreading pool of blood.

Who faced death?

I begin vomiting in the bag. And he begins beating me as I'm begging him not to kill me.

And live to tell how.

I grabbed him by the throat and said to him, as we were literally nose to nose, you're not going to kill me in my home.

This is I survived.

It's September 2006 in Portland, Oregon.

Susan, an emergency room nurse, has been married to her husband

for 17 years.

I never wanted to be a failure at marriage and worked very hard over the course of 17 years

to build a relationship.

...