skip navigation

Victim of "Railroad Killer" Calls Herself a Survivor


Originally published in:
Fox 7 News WTVW
02/03/2003

By Melinda Roeder

Evansville, Indiana

She's the only known survivor of the infamous Railroad Killer and she's ready to share her story. Holly Dunn, 26, survived an attack by Angel Maturino Resendiz in 1997. A notorious serial killer, police say he took at least nine lives in Texas, Illiniois and Kentucky.

Holly Dunn doesn't consider herself a victim. She's a survivor. In 1997, as a student at the University of Kentucky, Holly and her boyfriend were attacked along a set railroad tracks. He was killed. She was raped, beaten, and left for dead. "Well, I had a broken eye socket, and a broken jaw and I had a lot of cuts in the back of my head."

But she survived and later testified at trial against her attacker -- Angel Maturno Resendiz. "Hearing a train still is very hard for me," Holly said. "Two trains went by during the attack and hearing trains now really bothers me."

Holly's physical and emotional scars remain. But she wants to share her story with others. "It makes me feel good to know that I can help other people and that I have soemthing that can inspire them and can tell them something that will make them more aware."

That's why Holly was eager to accept a role in an upcoming benefit for the Albion Fellows Bacon Center. With the help of organizers, she's writing her own monologue that she'll perform live on stage in the "Vagina Monologues."

"I love performing and being on stage and acting."

The monologue will focus on how Holly envisions a world without violence. That's almost impossible for the victim of such a horrible attack. But Holly isn't a victim, she's a survivor. "I live my life knowing that I could've died and that I am a survivor. I want to live my life to the fullest."

The "Vagina Monologues" will be performed March 8 at the Victory Theatre. The play explores women's thoughts about themselves and their sexuality. Money from ticket sales will got to the Albion Fellows Bacon Center.

[note: for more information on this V-Day event, visit the V-Day Evansville page.