Karen Sparks Epley
Karen Sparks Epley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karen Sparks 1955 (age 70–71) Seattle, Washington, U. S. |
| Other names | Joni Lenz Mary Adams Terri Caldwell |
| Education | University of Washington |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2013 – present |
| Children | 3 |
Karen Sparks Epley (born 1955) is an American accountant and survivor who is widely recognized as the first known victim of serial killer Ted Bundy.[1][2] For decades, she remained anonymous in true crime literature, often referred to by the pseudonym "Joni Lenz", "Mary Adams" and "Terri Caldwell".[3][4][5] She broke her silence in 2020 to share her story in the Amazon Prime docuseries Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.[2][6]
Early life and education
In 1974, Sparks was an 18-year-old student at the University of Washington in Seattle.[7][2] She was a dancer and lived in a basement apartment in the city's University District.[2][3]
1974 Attack
On the night of January 4, 1974, Ted Bundy entered Sparks' apartment while she was asleep.[8][2] Bundy used a metal rod—reportedly a piece of her own bedframe—to bludgeon her, causing a massive skull fracture.[2] He then used the same rod to cause severe internal injuries.[2] Sparks lay in a pool of blood for approximately 18 to 20 hours before being found by her roommate.[2][9]
She remained in a coma for 10 days.[2] She believes she was spared from death because her roommate Chunk was heard talking in his sleep, which may have spooked Bundy into fleeing.[2][3]
Recovery and injuries
The attack left Sparks with permanent physical and neurological disabilities.[2] She had permanent brain damage and a period of epileptic fits.[2] She has sensory problen a 50% loss of hearing, a 40% loss of vision, and constant tinnitus (ringing in the ears).[2]
Karen's father played a critical role in her recovery, refusing medical advice to place her in a nursing home and instead helping her relearn to walk and speak.[2]
Later life and career
She deliberately chose to live a private life to avoid being defined by the attack.[2] She became a successful accountant.[2]
Personal life
She married and had children.[2] She kept her history as a survivor secret from her children for most of their lives, stating, "I never directly talked to my own children about it because, you know, I am mom".[2]
Public Presence
After 46 years of anonymity, Sparks appeared in the 2020 documentary Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.[2] Her appearance debunked long-standing media rumors that she had been permanently institutionalized due to brain damage.[2] In 2021, she participated in a roundtable discussion with other survivors for the Fox Nation special Surviving Bundy with Nancy Grace.[10]
See also
General and cited sources
- Michaud, Stephen; Aynesworth, Hugh (1983). The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy. New York City: Linden Press / Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671449-61-2.
- Michaud, Stephen; Aynesworth, Hugh (August 1999) [1983]. The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy (Paperback; revised ed.). Irving, Texas: Authorlink Press. ISBN 978-1-928704-11-9. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- Keppel, Robert (2005). The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer (Paperback ed.). New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0-7434-6395-9.
- Rule, Ann (1980). The Stranger Beside Me (First ed.). New York and London: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-01399-5.
- Rule, Ann (1989). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; revised and updated ed.). New York City: Signet Books. ISBN 978-0-451-16493-3.
- Rule, Ann (2000). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; updated 20th anniversary ed.). New York: Signet Books. ISBN 978-0-451-20326-7.
- Rule, Ann (2009). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; updated 2009 ed.). New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-5959-7.
- Sullivan, Kevin M. (2009). The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History (Paperback ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Co. ISBN 978-0-7864-4426-7.
- Sullivan, Kevin (2020). The Enigma of Ted Bundy: The Questions and Controversies Surrounding America's Most Infamous Serial Killer (ebook ed.). Denver, Colorado: WildBlue Press. ISBN 978-1-952225-37-6. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
References
- ^ "Ted Bundy's First Known Victim Believes A Random Coincidence Saved Her Life". Oxygen. October 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Ted Bundy's First Known Survivor Speaks Out for the First Time in Amazon Doc: 'It Was Horrible'". Entertainment Tonight. January 31, 2020.
- ^ a b c Sullivan 2009, p. 14.
- ^ Rule 2009, p. 57.
- ^ "'Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer' breaks ground and empowers victims". The Michigan Daily. February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Karen Sparks, a survivor who is believed to be Ted Bundy's first victim". Television Academy. March 22, 2023.
- ^ Michaud & Aynesworth 1999, p. 28.
- ^ Keppel 2005, p. 389.
- ^ "Ted Bundy Terrorized Women and Girls Across the Country for Years. Revisiting His Horrifying Murder Spree and Remembering His Victims". People Magazine. January 24, 2026.
- ^ "'Surviving Bundy': Women recount serial killer's terror in new Fox Nation special". Fox News. October 12, 2021.