Evil Paid a Visit
- Jan 25, 2022
- 1:22:09
- Full Episode
<p>Donna Palomba speaks out about her years-long journey for justice after being raped in her own home, and the fight to keep her assailant from walking free. Andrea Canning reports.</p><p>Nearly 14 years after her attack, Donna Palomba set out to help other survivors of sexual crimes by launching her own non-profit called Jane Doe No More: https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/jane-doe-no-more-131399237630</p><p>SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE: On September 11, 1993, Donna Palomba was attacked in her Waterbury, Connecticut home. When she reported the assault to police, she was met with suspicion instead of support. Choosing to stay anonymous at the time, Donna and her husband sued the Waterbury Police Department and won. Years later, her attacker— her husband's friend since childhood —was identified. Now, as the founder of Jane Doe No More, she’s helping other survivors find their voices. In this episode, Andrea Canning catches up with Donna to discuss the evolution of her organization and her continued advocacy for others. Available exclusively to Dateline Premium subscribers: https://dateline.supportingcast.fm/listen/dateline-nbc-premium/after-the-verdict-evil-paid-a-visit</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>
Brief Summary
Donna Palumba survives a brutal assault, faces police skepticism, and ultimately identifies her attacker, leading to advocacy for survivors.
Key points
- A Night of Terror. Donna Palumba experiences a brutal assault in her home while her husband is away.
- Surviving the Assault. Donna fights for her life during a terrifying encounter with her attacker.
- The Aftermath. After the assault, Donna faces the shocking reality of being treated as a suspect.
- Police Accusations. Donna is accused of lying about her assault by the police, leading to a painful confrontation.
- The Lawsuit. The Palumbas decide to sue the police after feeling betrayed by the investigation.
- Trial Verdict. The jury finds the Moran brothers negligent, awarding the Palumbas $190,000.
Episode highlights
- Surviving the AssaultDonna fights for her life during a terrifying encounter with her attacker.“I just thought I've got to do what I can to survive.”4:26Jan 25, 2022
- The AftermathAfter the assault, Donna faces the shocking reality of being treated as a suspect.“He said, we have rock solid evidence that you purposefully lied to the police.”22:15Jan 25, 2022
- Police AccusationsDonna is accused of lying about her assault by the police, leading to a painful confrontation.“I was livid. I was livid. I wanted to hear one of them from limb to limb.”27:42Jan 25, 2022
- The LawsuitThe Palumbas decide to sue the police after feeling betrayed by the investigation.“I just could not imagine this happening to another family.”39:48Jan 25, 2022
- Trial VerdictThe jury finds the Moran brothers negligent, awarding the Palumbas $190,000.“It was vindication for her.”42:29Jan 25, 2022
- Public OpinionDespite winning the case, Donna feels she is losing in the court of public opinion.“Looked like Jane Doe was really a suspicious character.”43:37Jan 25, 2022
- The Shocking DNA MatchAfter 11 years, DNA evidence links John Regan to the assault on Donna Palumba.“It was a match.”58:56Jan 25, 2022
- A Close Call for LindsayLindsay Ferguson narrowly escapes an abduction attempt by John Regan on Halloween night.“All of a sudden I had a very forceful arm wrapped around my chest.”1:05:40Jan 25, 2022
