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ONE SURVIVOR: 35 Dead How I Became the Sole Kidnapped and Raped Survivor of the Casanova Serial Killer
I felt a strange overwhelming shadowy presence lurking behind me. The fuzzy hairs on my fragile arms immediately stood up at attention. All I wanted to do was get a cold glass of water from the kitchen faucet. Little did I know, that would never happen? A man’s booming voice startled me back to my present reality when he uttered the most chilling words I’ve ever heard in my life. The man I wish I never met convincingly said, “Don’t turn around or I’ll kill you.” It’s as if his words already had the power to take life from me. The glass of water I so desperately craved fell crashing to the floor along with my hopes and desires to escape this dreadful ordeal I would ever wish on my worst enemy—and it only just begun.This is an amazing true story of love, family, and survival when the infamous serial killer, Paul John Knowles, claiming to have killed 35 people during a cross-country killing spree during the summer and fall of 1974 came calling on the only kidnapped victim who survived. This is my story of survival using faith, fate, and wits to give me the needed strength that resonated throughout my life.
- GenresNonfiction
362 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2021
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November 21, 2023
The more I learn about Paul John Knowles the more I realize two things about the man. How sad, lonely, pathetic, and desperate for acceptance and love he was. He is also one of the stranges serial killers I've read about, at least in terms of his split personality. There are many many Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde type serial killer personalities, but Knowles to me is kind of unique.
This book is not really about Knowles at all. It's the life story basically of the author Barbara Mabee Abel. Which is what I expected. It's a real page turner, very well written, and surprisingly well produced and put together. This was not a lazy "I'm gonna write a book." Very similar to the book that was written by mass killer Charles Whitman's best friend. Both are well written and we are given nicely placed photographs.
I really appreciated the authors straight forwardness, honesty, and sense of humor through out the book. She seems like a delightful person.
I was hoping/rooting for the author to finally settle down with her long time friend. Date him, marry him, etc. So I was rooting for them and was glad to see them get together. Because they both seemed like they would fit wonderfully together and I wanted them to finally be happy, at least together and it certainly sounds like it was a happy family/relationship/marriage.
Trivia: We see a photo of the author's twin sister, who suffers from cerebral palsy and she's wearing a gag shirt that says "I'm not drunk I have C.P" which was a joke by a character in my all time favorite TV series; The facts of life. The character is played by a real comedian who really does suffer from Cerebral Palsy. She's a recurring character who is always nice to see. By the way, Paul John Knowles entered their lives in 1974. The facts of life didn't come out till 1979, and the comedian cousin with cerebral palsy didn't appear in the show till 1980 in season 2.
The book details the author's life before the incident, the incident her self, and the aftermath and the after after math of just living her life through the years.
The book does at the end go into who Paul John Knowles was, his background. The most important part of Paul John Knowles's story to me is his time in Dozier "reform" school. They mention the fact that the mayor visited the place, tried to shut it down in the 60's and called it "a training ground for a life of crime." Which of course is obviously correct. Paul John Knowles is an example of that. I know Knowles's brother, one of his brothers blamed the Dozier "reform" school for helping to create this situation and therefor responsible for all the murders, rapes, kidnappings, etc that he committed and again I agree with him.
They mention the beatings, rapes, and even killings there. The mass grave of over 100 former "students" prisoners on the property. But they don't go into some of the more gruesome details. Of where the rapes were actually carried out most of the time; a white shed called "The white house" and the brutality of the beatings. Like taking leather straps studded with metal scraps and beating the "students" with it. Ya, that's really gonna "rehabilitate" those children who already are going through problems in their lives.
There is some half truths and contradictions in terms of what is said about Knowles and the facts. The book states that Knowles was unable to perform sexually [was impotent] during his long encounter with Sandy Fawkes. I have her book. I read it last year. He was impotent at times but other times he wasn't, and he usually needed help. They had sex like 3 times during their encounter. The author points out an obvious observation, that Knowles was love starved. He was desperate for attention, love, and acceptance. I think anyone reading this book and reading Sandy Fawkes's book would realize this.
There are some other slight contradictions or half truths, but that is the one I most remember.
Took a long while, while editing, rereading, and lingering on this review. The term "serial killer."
Abel repeatedly states that she used the term "serial killer" back in 1974....but that term 'serial killer" was coined by Robert Ressler in the late 70's. A couple years after 1974. In 1973, a Texas serial killer Dean Corll was shot and killed by his teenage accomplice Elmer Wayne Henley. The case became known as "The Houston mass murders." Serial killers were referred to, commonly known as "mass murderers" and "lust killers" or in some cases "Ripper killers" referring to Jack the ripper.
It goes into her experience in documentaries and overall, well written and put together.
A really good book. I ended up going to bed a little bit later then I should of, decided to read a couple pages but ended up reading one or two more chapters and in a way, I think telling their stories and so forth. On camera, to other people, and to each other probably was a good thing since they didn't have to keep it all inside for years and years. At least it might seem that way. I aint a psychologist or anything.
I like her epilogue in a general sense about our current times; covid, division, riots, police brutality, etc but I disagree with her when she writes "We will come together as a nation, through all of this turmoil, ahead of the game, by getting back the good values that have been lost along the way. We will all survive!" I doubt it. There is a huge political divide between extremist left [SJWs/woke] and the extreme right [MAGA, white nationalist, dominionist, etc.]. Post modernism aka "post fact, post truth era" "alternative facts" "feels over reals" run amok, lost of any and all integrity. Fox news admitting in court they spread election lies for the money and audience capture. I don't have a lot of hope this is gonna change any time soon.
To quote a youtube commentator about 9/11, the 2000's, Bush, pro war songs, etc.
She plays a popular hit song basically saying "We fought, we tried, it didn't work. We just have to wait till it's over. That's it."
Lyrics like "It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting on (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change"
and "It's not that we don't care
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change"
In this 2020 video the commenter states "We can say this 'at least there's no trend of songs proudly proclaiming their disengagement.' or reassuring them selves that 'it'll be fine. We'll live through this' because I think most people finally realize that 'no, not everybody will live through this actually' and that there is no guarantee that this is for now." and ends with a stage show song with these lyrics "Don't stress. Relax. Let life roll off your backs. Except for death and paying taxes, everything in life is only for now." while playing footage from the iraq war. Of course I would of added the 2007 housing bubble and 2008 financial crisis that Bush directly caused. I totally remember that time and thinking "the world is falling apart." Seeing the lines of people at a stadium trying to apply for a job on the news. The line was enormous.
To quote a documentary about it, showing footage I saw as it aired on TV when it aired.
News reporter: There was a job fair at Dodgers stadium. Five hundred jobs available for ushers, food workers, security, 9-18 dollars an hour, part time. Five hundreds jobs. Four thousand five hundred showed up.
Poor woman crying: It's a lot of competition. I'm 55 years old tryin to get a job. It's heart breaking.
Financial expert: Millions of people lost their jobs, millions lost their homes. Cities and towns were devastated and on the other hand....Wallstreet survived. Quite nicely I might add.
I definitely felt a difference in the air. Food prices went up, less product for more money. Like I'd buy something for $3.99 when it use to be $0.99 and half the bag would be gone when originally it would of been full. Obama "change" ya...some change, uh?! I didn't support or vote for Obama. I was for Mike Gravel who actually did stand for change and would of most likely gotten us out of the middle east far sooner.
Then covid in 2020, line upon lines of cars waiting and getting free food. High inflation aka what is now known as greedlation. Houses, let alone apartments, etc are basically unaffordable, lower and lower wages. Fascism, extremism, conspiracy theories, and authoritarianism in the air. Climate change is getting worse and worse. Republicans pushing for and legalizing child labor/exploitation. Children working in meat packing plants. Russia and Ukraine, now Israel and Palestine. It's just crazy.
To quote two 16/18 year olds being asked why they were so political and their generation should care about politics and the state of the world.
"We were born after 9/11. After the war in Iraq. After the great recession. So we just feel like we're getting f**ked over constantly. Just getting f**ked." ....CORRECT.
At least I got to experience the 90's as a child and pre teen. They didn't.
And through out the 2000's I kept saying to my self "The 90's really are over,uh?"
I can go on and on and on about this.
The book ends with basically a time line of Paul John Knowles's crimes and victims. Which is I think a fairly good way to end the book, At least in this context. There was a book I own, a very expensive book about a mass killer, the book was basically about his life story and what helped create him and it's really good, although not well written at times, but instead of placing the massacre in it's proper place they save it for the end which I think was a total mistake. This book, it fits, it makes perfect sense.
So very well written and pretty well done. I am glad I got the book. I like fighters like Barbara Abel and others like her. Almost a 4/5. Most of the books I read are almost a 4/5 and this is one of them. A strong 3/5.
This book is not really about Knowles at all. It's the life story basically of the author Barbara Mabee Abel. Which is what I expected. It's a real page turner, very well written, and surprisingly well produced and put together. This was not a lazy "I'm gonna write a book." Very similar to the book that was written by mass killer Charles Whitman's best friend. Both are well written and we are given nicely placed photographs.
I really appreciated the authors straight forwardness, honesty, and sense of humor through out the book. She seems like a delightful person.
I was hoping/rooting for the author to finally settle down with her long time friend. Date him, marry him, etc. So I was rooting for them and was glad to see them get together. Because they both seemed like they would fit wonderfully together and I wanted them to finally be happy, at least together and it certainly sounds like it was a happy family/relationship/marriage.
Trivia: We see a photo of the author's twin sister, who suffers from cerebral palsy and she's wearing a gag shirt that says "I'm not drunk I have C.P" which was a joke by a character in my all time favorite TV series; The facts of life. The character is played by a real comedian who really does suffer from Cerebral Palsy. She's a recurring character who is always nice to see. By the way, Paul John Knowles entered their lives in 1974. The facts of life didn't come out till 1979, and the comedian cousin with cerebral palsy didn't appear in the show till 1980 in season 2.
The book details the author's life before the incident, the incident her self, and the aftermath and the after after math of just living her life through the years.
The book does at the end go into who Paul John Knowles was, his background. The most important part of Paul John Knowles's story to me is his time in Dozier "reform" school. They mention the fact that the mayor visited the place, tried to shut it down in the 60's and called it "a training ground for a life of crime." Which of course is obviously correct. Paul John Knowles is an example of that. I know Knowles's brother, one of his brothers blamed the Dozier "reform" school for helping to create this situation and therefor responsible for all the murders, rapes, kidnappings, etc that he committed and again I agree with him.
They mention the beatings, rapes, and even killings there. The mass grave of over 100 former "students" prisoners on the property. But they don't go into some of the more gruesome details. Of where the rapes were actually carried out most of the time; a white shed called "The white house" and the brutality of the beatings. Like taking leather straps studded with metal scraps and beating the "students" with it. Ya, that's really gonna "rehabilitate" those children who already are going through problems in their lives.
There is some half truths and contradictions in terms of what is said about Knowles and the facts. The book states that Knowles was unable to perform sexually [was impotent] during his long encounter with Sandy Fawkes. I have her book. I read it last year. He was impotent at times but other times he wasn't, and he usually needed help. They had sex like 3 times during their encounter. The author points out an obvious observation, that Knowles was love starved. He was desperate for attention, love, and acceptance. I think anyone reading this book and reading Sandy Fawkes's book would realize this.
There are some other slight contradictions or half truths, but that is the one I most remember.
Took a long while, while editing, rereading, and lingering on this review. The term "serial killer."
Abel repeatedly states that she used the term "serial killer" back in 1974....but that term 'serial killer" was coined by Robert Ressler in the late 70's. A couple years after 1974. In 1973, a Texas serial killer Dean Corll was shot and killed by his teenage accomplice Elmer Wayne Henley. The case became known as "The Houston mass murders." Serial killers were referred to, commonly known as "mass murderers" and "lust killers" or in some cases "Ripper killers" referring to Jack the ripper.
It goes into her experience in documentaries and overall, well written and put together.
A really good book. I ended up going to bed a little bit later then I should of, decided to read a couple pages but ended up reading one or two more chapters and in a way, I think telling their stories and so forth. On camera, to other people, and to each other probably was a good thing since they didn't have to keep it all inside for years and years. At least it might seem that way. I aint a psychologist or anything.
I like her epilogue in a general sense about our current times; covid, division, riots, police brutality, etc but I disagree with her when she writes "We will come together as a nation, through all of this turmoil, ahead of the game, by getting back the good values that have been lost along the way. We will all survive!" I doubt it. There is a huge political divide between extremist left [SJWs/woke] and the extreme right [MAGA, white nationalist, dominionist, etc.]. Post modernism aka "post fact, post truth era" "alternative facts" "feels over reals" run amok, lost of any and all integrity. Fox news admitting in court they spread election lies for the money and audience capture. I don't have a lot of hope this is gonna change any time soon.
To quote a youtube commentator about 9/11, the 2000's, Bush, pro war songs, etc.
She plays a popular hit song basically saying "We fought, we tried, it didn't work. We just have to wait till it's over. That's it."
Lyrics like "It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting on (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change"
and "It's not that we don't care
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change"
In this 2020 video the commenter states "We can say this 'at least there's no trend of songs proudly proclaiming their disengagement.' or reassuring them selves that 'it'll be fine. We'll live through this' because I think most people finally realize that 'no, not everybody will live through this actually' and that there is no guarantee that this is for now." and ends with a stage show song with these lyrics "Don't stress. Relax. Let life roll off your backs. Except for death and paying taxes, everything in life is only for now." while playing footage from the iraq war. Of course I would of added the 2007 housing bubble and 2008 financial crisis that Bush directly caused. I totally remember that time and thinking "the world is falling apart." Seeing the lines of people at a stadium trying to apply for a job on the news. The line was enormous.
To quote a documentary about it, showing footage I saw as it aired on TV when it aired.
News reporter: There was a job fair at Dodgers stadium. Five hundred jobs available for ushers, food workers, security, 9-18 dollars an hour, part time. Five hundreds jobs. Four thousand five hundred showed up.
Poor woman crying: It's a lot of competition. I'm 55 years old tryin to get a job. It's heart breaking.
Financial expert: Millions of people lost their jobs, millions lost their homes. Cities and towns were devastated and on the other hand....Wallstreet survived. Quite nicely I might add.
I definitely felt a difference in the air. Food prices went up, less product for more money. Like I'd buy something for $3.99 when it use to be $0.99 and half the bag would be gone when originally it would of been full. Obama "change" ya...some change, uh?! I didn't support or vote for Obama. I was for Mike Gravel who actually did stand for change and would of most likely gotten us out of the middle east far sooner.
Then covid in 2020, line upon lines of cars waiting and getting free food. High inflation aka what is now known as greedlation. Houses, let alone apartments, etc are basically unaffordable, lower and lower wages. Fascism, extremism, conspiracy theories, and authoritarianism in the air. Climate change is getting worse and worse. Republicans pushing for and legalizing child labor/exploitation. Children working in meat packing plants. Russia and Ukraine, now Israel and Palestine. It's just crazy.
To quote two 16/18 year olds being asked why they were so political and their generation should care about politics and the state of the world.
"We were born after 9/11. After the war in Iraq. After the great recession. So we just feel like we're getting f**ked over constantly. Just getting f**ked." ....CORRECT.
At least I got to experience the 90's as a child and pre teen. They didn't.
And through out the 2000's I kept saying to my self "The 90's really are over,uh?"
I can go on and on and on about this.
The book ends with basically a time line of Paul John Knowles's crimes and victims. Which is I think a fairly good way to end the book, At least in this context. There was a book I own, a very expensive book about a mass killer, the book was basically about his life story and what helped create him and it's really good, although not well written at times, but instead of placing the massacre in it's proper place they save it for the end which I think was a total mistake. This book, it fits, it makes perfect sense.
So very well written and pretty well done. I am glad I got the book. I like fighters like Barbara Abel and others like her. Almost a 4/5. Most of the books I read are almost a 4/5 and this is one of them. A strong 3/5.
August 15, 2024
I found this book interesting and intriguing. After seeing a crime show episode with the author being interviewed, I wanted to learn more about what she did to stay alive. Very interesting tactics. The book goes into detail with the authors personal life and her Faith, which is relevant to the overall story.
The writing is decent, and the author does a good job of making the reader feel anger and despise, not only towards the murderer, but also towards a coworker of hers and the killers Attorney.
The writing is decent, and the author does a good job of making the reader feel anger and despise, not only towards the murderer, but also towards a coworker of hers and the killers Attorney.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews