Rising from Rape

As a new attorney, Pamela Braswell was confident her career was about to skyrocket. Instead, she narrowly escaped death at the hands of a serial rapist and killer—his only surviving victim. Twenty years later, the moratorium on executions in California that put his execution on hold ended, but the governor announced he wouldn’t enforce the death penalty. Braswell’s firsthand true crime narrative gives a victim’s perspective of the harrowing investigation, the revelations in the press, the grand jury indictment and capital murder trial. Through it all, her refusal to be a victim transforms her view of the world—and its heroes.

Pamela Braswell worked as a flight attendant, insurance professional, and actor before graduating from law school and obtaining licenses in Georgia and California. She lives in Delano, Tennessee.

Pamela Braswell
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 243
Bibliographic Info: 18 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2020
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8294-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4102-7
Imprint: Exposit

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 3

Major Crimes
1. Desert Heat 5
2. Quick Thinking 11
3. A Narrow Escape 15

Evidence Collection
4. An Open Door 17
5. Needle Phobia 24

Police Investigation
6. A Welcome Light 31
7. Photo Lineup 39
8. A Solid Lead 43
9. An Initial Shock 52

Subpoenas
10. A Grand Jury 61
11. ADA Kirkwood and a Stranger 67

Grand Jury
12. Three Sets of Initials 73
13. Leaving the Court 82
14. Recalled to Testify 89
15. Media Coverage 94

Arraignment
16. An Ally 99
17. Old Newspapers 105
18. Plea of Not Guilty 110

The Wait for Trial
19. Bureaucracy and Need 115
20. His Identity Revealed 119
21. Family Matters 123

Winning the Fight
22. Alone and Watching the O.J. Trial 133
23. Washing Away the Dirt and Grime 137
24. My Competence Questioned Again 141

The People of the State of California vs. Eric Wayne Bennett
25. Testifying in the Guilt Phase 147
26. Attending the Penalty Phase 155
27. Formal Sentencing 166

Reclaiming My Life
28. Measured Progress 173
29. Hard Hits 186
30. Following My Heart 203

An Open Letter to the Governor of California, Gavin C. Newsom 221
Index 229