Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence

by Debra Puglisi Sharp

In April 1998, Debra Puglisi Sharp -- wife, nurse, and mother of teenage twins -- was tending the roses in her garden when a factory worker with a cocaine habit slipped in through an open door and waited for her to come in. Nino, her husband of twenty-five years, got in the way and was shot. The man then attacked and raped Debra, placed her in the trunk of his car, and drove away. Kept hog-tied in her abductor's house, Debra finally learned of her husband's murder from a newscast on a radio that the man blared to muffle her screams while he was out. After five excruciating days, Debra's mounting rage at her captor -- and the wrenching thought of her children burying their father alone -- gave her the courage and strength she desperately needed. She loosened her ties, groped her way to the phone...and dialed 911.

Shattered is an indelible portrait of hope, determination, and the agonizing journey back to life. Struggling to heal from her horrendous ordeal and the devastating loss of her husband, Debra also had to endure an agonizing court trial, the raw grief of her children, and her own crippling fear. But through her work in hospice care and as an advocate for victims of violence and trauma, she has slowly discovered the measure of her own strength. A compelling survival story -- tragic and ultimately heroic -- Shattered represents one woman's attempts to make sense of a senseless crime.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Crime, Survival

303 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago because it interested me for two reasons- one being that I was on a real true crime kick and the other reason being that it happened about ten minutes from my house. Luckily, this sort of thing "doesn't happen around here" very often....at the same time it was of great interest to me.
Flagg worked at a plant that most Delawareans have worked at or have family who have worked at and the author lived in two or three towns that I've also lived in and/or spent a great deal of time in.
The book is outstanding. The fact that I didn't remember that I'd read it, didn't recognize the cover, started reading it again and only then realized what the hell was going on, in no way says anything about this book. Only about me and my lack of a memory.
I would definitely hand this to anyone who likes true crime, anyone who likes memoirs that can handle a somewhat specific true crime memoir, and anyone with a link to Delaware that might be interested.
I hope the author and her kids and extended family have gotten some peace out of writing this. They deserve it.

[Amy Bruestle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. Being that it is non fiction and based on someone’s story, I don’t want to discount that by any means....and i know that controls how much the author can change as far as the writing goes....i just wasn’t that into this book. Aside from the very beginning, i had to push myself to finish it.

[Koren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered by Debra Puglisi Sharp.

Wow! This lady is one strong woman. She went through a kidnapping, rape and murder of her husband to come out stronger in the end. This is not a 'feel sorry for me' book. It is well-written. The story moves along quickly, although at times becomes bogged down in the details. Once I started I couldnt put it down. 5 stars. There is a good lesson here on what to do if something similar should ever happen.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to think 🤔 considering I'm a rapped victim myself, reading someone's else detail of theirs makes me think of mine so it's hard to make a statement after reading this book.

[Madison Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stopped reading around chapter 13-15, not really sure when. The first part of the book when she was recounting her experience was VERY good and VERY interesting. However, when it came to the aftermath of what she experienced the author lost me.

DNF

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't read true crime stories, but as I met Debbie Puglisi at a writer's conference in Dewey Beach, Delaware back in 2005 (?), I was intrigued, and terrified, by her ordeal. One April day, as she was planting rosebushes in her yard, an intruder by the name of Donald Flagg broke into her home, shot and killed her husband Nino, and then, attacked, raped and abducted her when she went into the house; he took her to his house in the trunk of his car. There, she spent a harrowing five days in captivity, bound and gagged, repeatedly raped, and terrified that she would be killed. Only when she managed to break free and call 911 was she finally rescued. The story goes back and forth in time, from her marriage to Nino and her normal life in a middle class Delaware neighborhood, to the day of the crime and the five days of her captivity, along with memories of her life before the crime and worries for her surviving grown children. She tells with much courage her struggles to survive post-traumatic stress syndrome from her ordeal, her anger toward and hatred of the killer/rapist/abductor, who she calls "the asshole," and the long ordeal of the trial where the defense attorneys tried to elicit sympathy for the killer by insisting he was guilty only by reason of insanity.

The author/victim does a great job of telling her story without glossing over anything, delving into the unthinkable experience and the emotional turmoil she suffered. It's hard to say I enjoyed the book, because as a woman, I would not wish for anyone to go through such an experience. But Puglisi tells the story unflinchingly, and I absolutely appreciate her brutal honesty.

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so sad and frightening. To think just by working in your garden you could be spotted by a psycho and have your whole world torn apart.

[diane stefon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I applaud the courage of Debra Puglisi to tell her story, but it could have been done with less pages. The crime part at the beginning and the courtroom part at the end were good. The middle of the book got too repetitive for me.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read although quite disturbing. Denise Puglisi did a wonderful job of discussing a very ugly subject - rape & murder. True story of what she and her family have been through. Kudos to you!!!

[Sherri Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story that was painful to read and experience as the author takes you through everything she experienced and felt through the violent crime she experienced. It was really well written though, but no way around the feelings it elicits.

[Lily Ellefson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly inspiring story that tackled both the support needed for victims as well as disillusionment of the victim experience. Debra’s journey as a middle aged victim of a violent crime is one that deserves projection into world.

[Therese Bergwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Donna Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Esther Zuppo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra Puglisi Sharp is a brave, strong woman and she is an inspiration to all of us.

[Jen Daler · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read! Graphic, descriptive, horrific story of survival! That woman is a BAD ASS! MUST READ FOR SURE!

[Malin Rehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A motivated and brave story of how to survive a violent crime against family and oneself. Debbie is so strong. All kind of surviviors are strong💪🏾😨😥🤗

[Cory Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s really degrading because it’s not good to relive being raped or tortured or loose your own husband or a loved one and a lot of courtroom talk about Donald flag was mentally ill it don’t matter you should not rape at all I’ll or not he should rot in jail for his whole life

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I remember from my Catholic studies a saint named Maria Goretti. She was canonized, as I recall, not for good deeds but because she resisted a rape attempt. The would-be rapist killed her, and ever after she was held up as an ideal of womanly virtue. There goes my chance at sainthood.” This gets even worse because Goretti has Chasity as one of her patronages. Literally, I’m sick!!!

[Timothy Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down

I was pleasantly surprised at how well this book was written. Written by someone who is telling her own story, in her own words, this is a book I couldn’t put down. Debbie’s story had me crying tears of sadness and of joy. God bless Debbie and her family.

[Barbara Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

True story in my home state! Must read book. It has made me SO aware of my surroundings especially in my own yard!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

True account of a woman whose husband is murdered and she is raped and kidnapped. I don't know why I picked up this particular book to read. It sounded really horrific and I guess that intrigued me. It was about an average person and a random act of violence. She was living in a nice neighborhood -safe- she knew her neighbors. This guy, on crack, was cruising around looking for an attractive woman to kidnap and rape. He spotted her doing her gardening, slipped into her house in the middle of the day, shot her husband and attacked her when she came in through the garage door. He took her to her own basement and raped her. He covered her up and put her in the trunk of her car and drove to his house. Nobody saw a thing. She was held prisoner in his house for five days. He raped her several times and left her tied up with ropes. She had to pee on herself. She had to bathe in front of him. She had to sleep next to him with his arm across her chest. She had to hear of her husband's murder on the news in his house. She couldn't upset him or he'd kill her too. He switched to handcuffs and she managed to dial 911 when he was at awork. She was rescued and he was captured and jailed. During the trial, lawyers actually sat next to and defended this animal. He didn't get the death sentence, but life in prison.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my Book Club selection for January 31st. The storytelling is so real and I don't usually read such gripping books. I did peek ahead and now know that the attack will soon be over as it looks like the story continues with her coping after this horrible shattering time.
I'll get this finished this weekend and write back after our Book Club discussion.
My prayers for Debra and her family, and for her sweet remembrances of Nino. I'm so glad she was able to write this book with the thought to 'celebrate life, even its setbacks. We do it together. We do it today."
Thanks also to Marjorie Preston (journalist), who helped Debra write this. Marjorie is also a victim of a violent crime.

[Donna Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book, one that will be with me for a long time. It's the true story of Debra Puglisi Sharp's horrific encounter with a violent criminal, how she survived it, and rebuilt her life once she escaped. I cannot imagine how terrifying the experience must have been for her, especially after learning while she was still held captive that her husband had been killed in the attack. Many passages are deeply moving, at times even difficult to read, but her story is, in the end, inspirational and well worth a read.

[Lisa Cerullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. It's a true story about a victom attacked and kidnapped from her own house in Delaware. It details how she serviced the kidnapping, rape and how she eventually escaped. I think any women should read this book. It's well written in a way it doesn't frighten the reader, but instead takes the reader through the events and how she servived physically and mentially with amazing courage.

[Kristin Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Gave an amazing, true, picture of what someone goes through who not only loses a husband to murder, but was kidnapped and tortured. The trial at the end is super interesting and so is the story. The reason I gave it 3 stars is because she really drags out some parts. I found myself skimming some parts, as opposed to actually reading, when she went on about the death of her husband. I appreciated these feelings, but again, parts were dragged out. Interesting though.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written account of the author's physical and emotional struggles as she recovers from being widowed, kidnapped and abused. The first half of the book details the attack while the rest deals with Puglisi-Sharp's time with her therapist, the obstacles her children dealt with during the healing process and the trial of her attacker. Uplifting and not at all sugar coated view of the human spirit's ability to prevail in times of great loss.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book I'm not sure 5 stars is enough to give it. I actually turned to the beginning and started reading it again as soon as I finished it. Debra's frightening story of how her world was "shattered" shows how quickly life can change thru no fault of our own. Her story of how she put her life back together was inspiring.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debra Puglisi's book about her experience being kidnapped and raped, as well as the murder of her husband at the hands of her kidnapper, is detailed and covers all aspects of the event, from the crime to the trail. It's amazing the types of hideous crimes that some people are able to survive. However, I didn't find her account particularly well-written or captivating.

[Debra McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling, chilling true life account of a woman whose husband was shot to death; she was kidnapped by his killer (a total stranger) and repeatedly raped and brutalized. She escapes, and the perp is caught and tried. This is a psychological book that goes into how this woman and her children dealt with the grief and trauma and recovery. Sad and hopeful at the same time.

[Renee Cutchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assigned to read this book in 2010, for a class on Victimology while pursuing my Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. I could not put this book down, terrifying and heartbreaking. Also, I admire Ms. Sharp immensely for her survival and her outreach to other victims (and family members of survivors).