True story: Yes back then things were a lot different. I hitch-hiked ONE time...and got the shock of my life. The car was new, he looked clean and well dressed, very mannerly...I thought...whew this is good. I got in and as we drove off...I noticed...NO car door opener on my side...just paneling. A chill came over me. I had one way to get out...over him. I knew something bad was going to happen. We talked and I kept him laughing, trying to act like I had not noticed anything wrong. We had to stop for gas..he told me to stay in the car and not get out. I started holding myself saying I really really had to go pee. He got mad but said ok..but make it quick.The restroom was on the outside so I took off to it...but kept running around the building and ran to the nearby little cafe and ran in. I went behind the counter and ducked down. A woman and the manager came and I told them about the man and the car door. The man went into a little room by the kitchen and came out saying help is coming...they are just 4 miles away...stay put where you are. I did. Within minutes a hwy. patrol car came and the woman said "You can come out now sweetie" and I did. I told the officer everything. As he walked outside my ride took off in a cloud of dust. Another hwy. patrol car pulled in and they both took off after the man. The woman stayed with me until a lady cop from the near by town came for me. Did I freak out for no reason ? I say...NO and never hitch-hiked again.
Wow you were really smart to realize early on about his intentions. You definitely did the right thing. But you were also incredibly lucky that he had to stop for gas. What could have happened if he never stopped. Really glad that you're ok
The thing is, they said he attacked another woman 10 years after his release from his prison sentence for nearly killing Mary....who here believes that during that 10-year period he didn't attack and murder any other women? There are so many cold cases of murders and disappearances that haven't been solved. I find it highly unlikely that he behaved himself during those 10 years and even BEFORE he attacked Mary. This guy knew what he was doing and Mary was probably not his first rodeo.
I just can't comprehend that kind of thinking and it is so frightening to know that it is out there. I know it has happened and still does, but I just can't make sense of how people can do this kind of stuff. It hurts me to think about.
He was in his 50's in this story so it's likely this vile incident wasn't the first. It makes me wonder how many people got away with murder because we didn't have DNA technology.
I remember reading about this when it happened. Horror, about a young girl running naked down road with arms in the air. But she survived. That goes to show the will to live is a real thing.
What he did to her was horrendous. He almost killed that poor girl. Then to threaten her as she was leaving, I would have turned to the judge and say he just threatened me!!! What a brave and amazing woman. As for MrBallen, what a great storyteller and love his channel. I wish she would have listened to her instincts and to that other couple. But maybe she was the one meant to survive and put him away.
I love the narrative that "hitchhiking would be too dangerous these days," yet crime was at an all-time high back in the 1970s. Hitchhiking has always been dangerous.
Right, just like in the 80s I could go all over my neighborhood on my bike all hours of the day, knowing which houses pervs lived at so I'd pedal faster. I remember messed up stuff happening to kids often. But people will say "I miss when it was safe enough for us to stay out until the street lights came on".... scuse me? It wasn't safe, it was just accepted parental behavior lol
I used to hitchhike all the time in the 70's. A handful of serial killers were well-known, but we thought it was rare. Many of the 70's serial killers weren't caught until the 80's or 90's. I wouldn't do it now. I'm not so sure that the "all time high" was in the 70's. Some of today's SKs might not be caught until the 2030's.
Hitchhiking has always a risky thing to do. But to say crime was at an all time high in the 70s is a complete non truth. Violent crime prior to the last 3 years was already up 40% from 1990 and 60% from 1970. That is public record. They're were more people killed in rioting & mass shootings over the last couple of years than every Serial killer victims combined in history. That was in a news program about mass shootings on one of the Discovery networks.
Your reaction at 16:10 is how every single person I've seen react to it (including myself) has reacted. This story is nuts but even more nuts is human perseverence sometimes.
Who’s more evil?? The psychopath, or the justice system “ who’s HANDS ARE TIED” for doing that to a child and letting him murder this time. I saw the irony in that!!!!
In the mid 90s my husband picked up a disheveled hitchhiker in the mountains of Colorado, with our 9 & 6 year old children in the car. The kids were very uncomfortable having him in the car. Gave him a ride to a bus station in Denver. After some discussion, we agreed he would not do that again.
Man, Jamel look. I’ve been trying to tell you this for a minute. So I’m just going to say it here. I didn’t even watch this video….this is a lot. My daughter took her life back in 2020. We were on lockdown in Bay Area which left me way too much time on my own despite plenty of support. My daughter and I always commiserated through me showing her movies and music. I loved watching her reactions. So now I watch reactors because it reminds me of her. But you, my friend, will always be the first. I will always remember you reacting just as my daughter did and your laidback peaceful vibe is so what I needed at that time. I think all too often we miss opportunities to tell people how they affected them positively. That’s not gonna happen here. Bless you. 🙏
I can't imagine the torrent of emotion you undoubtedly feel to this day. I am truly sorry that has happened and am saddened by the loss of your daughter. That you felt strongly enough to relay that tragedy here says a lot about what Jamel has been doing in bringing this community together. Jamel is a tremendous individual, and he has touched many people in positive ways. It is our privilege knowing that he has brought us together and in knowing that you should also recognize you are never alone. There are others in this world that harbor grief and we all do what we must to survive. Carry on, brother. We are here for you.
Very sorry for your heart-wrenching loss. It is understandable why you couldn't watch. I had the same reaction at first but know Jamal well enough to know he's not going to post something frivolously violent. This is a saga of a superhuman will to live and the perverse coddling of a psychopath let loose by lax laws resulting from leftist activists who think every criminal is a persecuted saint.
So sorry for your loss. It's heartbreaking. I lost a friend like this . I was too young and dumb too see he was struggling. If I could go back and have a chance too talk to him before he pulled the trigger I would. Peace and blessings
Loving the diversity of your channel subject matter . Your music reactions are great , but your expanded discussion has opened so many avenues . The world is your oyster , we enjoy your pearls.
I was driving to TX From NV a few years ago and a man was on the side of the road hitchhiking. I remember how he looked because it was getting dark but it was not completely night time yet. So it wasn't super dark outside. I ended up stopping at the stop sign where he was standing. He had on a grayish colored jacket , longish dark hair, he was a white guy who I thought was just homeless. Kinda like a hippie type. When I got to my hotel in TX, I was bored as hell trying to find something to watch on tv because I got tired of scrolling Reddit, so I just watched the news. About 20 minutes into the program, the anchors were asking people to watch out for a serial r*pist in the Houston area. And she gave the description. That man who was hitchhiking was the serial rapist!! I called my parents with the quickness! I'm glad I am not gullible and that nice to go around picking up random strangers.
Hitch hiking was commonplace in the 1970's. A thumb in the air and a backpack almost always assured a ride. I hitch hiked from Florida to California the summer after I graduated to see the country and never had any problems. Most times those who picked me up would offer a big fat doobie to ol' Doobie Dave and truckers were also great about giving hitchers a lift. You couldn't pay me enough to hitch these days, there is just too much evil out there. 🙏✌️
Firstly, it's incredible that she somehow survived all of what he did to her. But secondly, it is atrocious that he was able to do all that he did and only get 14 years. Then be out after 8 years for "good behaviour". I'm glad that what he did led to a change for harsher sentencing. But it's a change that shouldn't have needed to be made because it should have already been the case.
I had a bad enounter as well when I was 15..... A very tall young man who I think was about nineteen had hung out in my neighborhood all summer. I was very timid and while walking down the street.... he came up behind me and started talking to me, asking where was I going? I told him the grocery store. He turned to me and said, wait, my friend has a car, he'll give us a lift.... I said no, it's ok but he kept on insisting. Finally, he kind of took my arm and got into his friend's car and pulled me in too. The man started to drive past the store and I tried to get out but he wouldn't stop and the man next to me held my shoulders.We kept on driving till we came to a stretch of beach. By then it was starting to get dark and I struggled to get away from him. I was in a total panic. The driver started to drive on the sand, saying no, you're not getting out ! I continued to struggle, and thank God was able to grab the door handle and open the door. He drove faster and I flung myself out ot the car and hit the sand . I ran and I ran till I saw a house that was half built and I started screaming. God watched over me, there was a night watchman in the house and came to see what had happened. He called the Police and they took me home. Never saw either one of them again. I got much smarter after that and never put myself in that kind of danger again.
I'm a 63 year old woman and used to hitchhike when I was 16. I didn't drive but when I needed to get somewhere I would stick out my thumb and catch a ride. Nothing bad ever happened to me but I think back now and realize how lucky I was.
The 60's and 70's was the peace and love genre..I grew up in that genre, being born in the mid 50's..however those genres also had the likes of Ted Bundy, the boston strangler, Richard Speck to name a few..and the Manson Family..lets not forget them...yes, it was the hippie movement, but there were also many dangers then and even mor dangerous since then and now..there are some sickoz out there..be aware of your surroundings and never put yourself in a situation that can lead to these kind of things..stay safe..don't travel alone..no matter who you identify as 💖
I never knew this was a real story. This was a story they told us kids when they warned about the dangers of hitchhiking. Stupid thing is I still would hitchhike when I was a teenager back in the 80's and I am also in California. I did have 2 scary experiences (1 should have been enough, but I was dumb back then). I look back now and cringe thinking how easily I too could have ended up in a ditch dead somewhere. The strength this girl had, that will to live is incredible to hear about. It's almost unbelievable if there wasn't proof. To live through that and then to carry on to face him later, what a brave soul. I mean wow! Just wow!
I think people felt safer back in the day hitchhiking because we didn't have instant access to 24/7 news like we do now. Where I grew up, we were lucky to have 3 channels. Most of the time, we didn't hear about what was going on in other counties, let alone states. I got into true crime on RUclips about five years ago, thought I would find an answer to why someone did what they did, there is no rhyme or reason for evil. I'm so glad she lived, strong lady. I hope she's doing well today.
Jamel's face when the white murder van showed up was classic! All of us true crime junkies know that nothing good happens in a van. Especially one from the 70s!
Unbelievable what that sick monster did to that 15 year old child and then kills another woman?! Unfortunately there is some sick people in this world, can’t be too cautious, always be aware of your surroundings and never ignore your gut feeling!
I remember this story. She was on "I Survived". Shit's horribly tragic but I'm glad she lived and was able to make a life for herself. I can't even imagine going through that.
I've hitchhikede. I had rules. NO vans back seats to anyone sittig behind me to any and all offerings (food/water/cigarettes, etc) to any vehicle without windows to sitting between people. loud music and on and on. Always took me forever but I MADE SURE they were HARMLESS. I specifically chose harmless people. Had a good time, gave them some cash and moved on. ZERO issues. I would NOT do it now.
I'm old enough to remember this horrific case. It's a miracle she survived and was rescued by passers by. Only hitchhiked once with a few friends just about a mile down at the beach. It's sad so many young people are still putting their lives in danger trusting strangers. 😔
This is what women see everyday, the monster got off after EIGHT YEARS because he "had good behavior!" Did they forget his behavior on Mary? Women just don't count, we know we do, but society doesn't. The prison time that men get compared to what women get when they finally fight back is not what I would call "justice"
Yeah I've heard this story it's amazing I can't believe that they couldn't put through more to him and couldn't do more to punish him thank God they finally changed that law though May her life be better than what it was may God give her strength to carry on cuz he had to just to make sure she survived thank God she did you take care and God bless
Praise God for being there for Mary! I would love too meet this woman! She had such will power. If that man would have said that too me walking at of the court room...woooooo! Lol!
I felt that HARD when you pitched your headphones down... Don't let evil consume you--- just like that phenomenal young woman did, *Live* !!! Fight the *good* fight--- Continue to open eyes and hearts--- The devil HATES when one ( or better yet, *many* ! ) gets away!!!
One of the most harrowing stories. I heard this on Morbid: A True Crime Podcast probably five years ago, and it sticks with me to this day. The tenacity of that 15 YEAR OLD GIRL and her will to survive....truly remarkable
This whole story was extremely upsetting to me. God bless this lady and her family. I’ve always taught my kids and grandkids that if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. I’m not saying that this is her fault at all. Even animals run away from something that scares them. Humans don’t use our intuition. Something feels funny and we ignore it. Too bad this monster died before he fried.
I have been waiting for you to see this one. It is infuriating! Yet another reason for everyone to be a good human. We have real monsters out here folks.
Mary is an impressive woman. It's also somewhat evident that he was not very knowledgable about medical stuff, because if she is still bleeding profusely, her heart is still beating, and she is still alive. Had this happened in the modern day, her left hand would've gotten him caught, had she not survived, because of the probability of her hand either leaving a mark on him, or at least transferring DNA. I can't imagine losing my hands, especially because I am in a wheelchair.
I used to hitch hike back in my teen years. One time a guy started down a dirt road, I opened the door and jumped and ran! I was lucky. Never did it again after that. Luckily it HAD a handle on the door, unlike Bundy's car.
When was this? What about seat belt laws in the US? I mean, in Sweden it's the law always having it on since 1986. If you'd had one on you probably hadn't been able to flee. Did you have to time it to when he shifted or in a turn? Did you fall out, or did you step out?
This story is absolutely horrific. I don’t know how she was able to survive the attack and get herself anywhere in that condition. How do you put your life back together after something like this? It’s astonishing her mental and emotional strength.
I had a conversation with my son about this very case not long ago. His face was exactly like yours during the telling of it. What Mr. Ballen didn't say, is that Mary went on to become a talented, accomplished artist. She's an amazing painter. Mary has spoken about her ordeal, as hard as it is to listen to, I highly recommend watching her talk about it (she did an episode of I Survived, pretty sure it's on RUclips somewhere.)
As EVIL as that "man" was/is she is even more COURAGEOUS and STRONG !!! As a battle tested Marine who has seen things that most would assume were reserved for HELL ( looking at you Somalia and Rwanda ) I wish I had one one thousandth of her strength and resilience.
You know what's scary is here in the Santa Cruz mountains (California) there are people who still hitchhike! I never see it down in town, just our mountains. I just shake my head every time.
Yes, I too am old enough that I remember hitchhiking as a normal thing. Had some pretty funky experiences, but survived them all. Another great video, thanks, Jamal.
It was the fact of "Being a good human." People believed that everyone was still good, moral people back then. If you needed a ride and they're going that way, you HELP. This is when humans started loosing that faith, when monsters are men(and women.) I love your channel and moto, Jamal. Positivity of just being a good human, where theres a lack of. But this man, this story, is the opposite of your light. Thanks for reacting to the evil in people, it is very hard. But this goes to show the good in people is stronger. With love
Look into a story called A Higher Call. It’s WW2 story about an American bomber pilot Charlie Brown and a Luftwaffe fighter pilot named Franz Stigler. It’s one of the greatest WW2 stories many people have never heard of.
@@GloJut64 . Nope, it made me sick to be quite honest, and very very upset for the lady who lost her arms, I can not even work out how she was sane after that.........But hay! ......whatever floats ya boat.
Using the mud to slow the blood loss made me feel nauseous. I mean, it clearly worked, but if she didn't get an infection, that is amazing. The arms above her head thing is something that, while I have known that that is a way to slow the bleeding, keeping it elevated above your heart, I would likely not have the consciousness to know that that is what I should do.
@@disableddragonborn Or, her balls are *just* as big as *ANY* Marine's... They should give her an Honorary "thing"... At only 15, she showed more resilience, more courage, more determination than grown men 3x her age with 3x the training... She's grown now, and I CAN imagine the " Don't you EV-AR hitchhike, etc..." talks...
I been listening to Mr Ballen podcast for about a year now. If you get a chance, you should listen to his horror experience he had as a teen. He said he thinks this is why he is so interested in the Supernatural. PS, I also like to listen to your podcast too. You seem like such a good, strong, gentle man.
As a single female, I do not pick up hitchhikers. I was riding with my mother, who was in her 80's at the time, and we saw a hitchhiker. Biker type,6 ft 5 or so, over 250 lbs. MOM, don't stop! I yelled as she pulled over. Oh, that's just TINY, she said. It was a buddy of hers that enjoyed gardening with her on a regular basis. Ya just don't know by looking at people.🤣🤣🤣🤣
When I was a teenager and at 16 got my first car. My dad bought me a 1957 Chevy, ( this was in the year 1964) and the first thing my dad told me, never pick up a hitchhiker ( unless you really know them) unless they were my friends! So I didn't and even before that, my parents told me and never to hitch a ride with a stranger or even just an acquaintance! So once more I never did that either. Hitchhiking in the 60s and 70s was relatively ok and safe. But like my parents, I drove that hitchhiking was not a good way to go! and now days? OMG i wouldn't ever try to hitch hike!! I mean literally when I see a tan old Volkswagen, I see every one as a person like Ted Bundy!! Or the Freeway serial killers! Nope I had better be near dead before I would ever do one or the other!!! This world has made me a very cautious person! Of course I have a CCW so, I don't think about it much any longer! Having my 2nd amendment right on me..... Im pretty sure I know what that means to me more of a freedom than my right to free speech!
When I was a kid my Dad would stop for hitchhikers. We had a VW van and seven of us kids, there were times my Dad would stop and whoever would see all of us and say no thanks!
I kid you not Jamel, I said THE VAN 😰at the same time as you, & with just as much dread! Husband is a 27yr retired cop so I’ve know about “the van” for years.
My cousin and I hitchhiked alot along the southern jersey shore area when on vacation with her family. They would pick quieter shore towns and we wanted more action like wildwood. We were very lucky nothing happened .... this was in the 70's
I was raised in Colorado, I was in High School and was a member of the Ski club, we went on a ski trip, there was a man who kept pestering me on the slopes that day, every time I looked up there he was staring at me smiling, and kept trying to talk to me, I finally went to one of the Teachers who were chaperoning the trip and told him, this teacher was not only in the ski club, but was also my schools head football coach, and was in pretty buff shape, he went up to the man and had words about me being underaged, and the man left me alone after that, not quite 2 yrs. later Ted Bundy's picture was on the news after his arrest and I realized that was the man bothering me on the slopes that day, I showed his pic to the teacher who was still at my High school and we were both shocked!!.. that teacher very well may have saved my life that day. because Bundy did in fact kill 2 women in Colorado, he picked up at ski resorts. Shout out to Mr Bridgeton who passed away several years ago, my hero that day!!! And here is a even scarier thought.. there are some states who are releasing these serial types back into society. Claiming awwwww poor prisoners, they deserve better rights, and a chance to show they are rehabilitated! BUT you can't change a wolf and expect him to stay a sheep once set back into the wild.. even phycologists are saying some states are playing some dangerous games.
I've hitched countless times over the past 30 yrs with no issue. Actually met sum great people I still speak too. This story is unfortunately highlighted the risk of hitching in a devastating way. We all have to remeber we looking at it in the past tense. We see all the dangers looking in at it. But at the time they asked they probably felt relief. She should never have gone on her own that's the golden rule though.
A few years ago I seen a retired FBI agent. He said since 9II, they didn't have the resources to look for serial killers. He said most of the people that's been missing are probably dead.
I was a teenager during most of the 70's and it was a very common site to see hitch hikers. Once there was a girl that looked about 18 hitch hiking and my friend and I stopped to see were she was looking to go so we opened the door and as she started to get in this older dirty looking guy (kinda of looked like he could have been a charlie Manson relative) came out of the ditch next to the road and grabbed the car door handle and said they were together. It was a two door car so my friend said we didn't have room and I drove off with the guy holding the door handle for a few feet before letting go. This guy gave us a uneasy feeling. We didn't want to take a chance that he had a gun and would have been sitting behind us. I never pulled over for a hitchhiker again.
Listen, I’ve been watching you for long enough to know that your actually a good man, please be careful watching these I have a couple of cases that haunt me and I can handle it. Take care
I've only hitchhiked once, Back when i was in high school, i spent the weekend at a friends parents place like 40 miles away, and we were supposed to catch the bus early morning monday monring to make it to school. Well wild weekend we overslept, and this is in the middle of january and theres like 2 and a half feet of fresh snow on the ground. So we started walking the 10 miles to get to the bust station. bout 2 miles out we started trying to hitchhike, and this nice lady and her 4 kids pull up in a Lincoln Continental and gave us a ride. It was noon before we got into town, so i ended up just skippin class =)
That monster did 14 years for that heinous stuff and yet in some states there are people literally life in prison (with no chance of parole) for something petty like possession of weed. Its insane. There's no fairness or justice in the world.
I have both hitchhiked (from when I wasn't old enough to have a driver's license) and picked up hitchhikers (after, obviously.) Hitchhiking was a pretty normal mode of transportation where I lived. This was a long time ago (20-35 years), so obviously, this isn't something people thought about much. I think the last time I was approached for a ride was a couple of years before covid hit -- two backpackers with GIGANTIC backpacks, which I had to turn down becase my car simply didn't have the space left over to accomodate both of them. It wasn't a "thumbs up" situation; we were approached on a gas station we had stopped at. A more normal thing for me when I hitchhiked would be them asking me my name, and when I told them, I'd basically get my whole family tree described. (Oh, so you are the son of so-and-so, and so-and-sho were your grandparents and your great grandparents and so forth.
Getting into a strangers VAN - not only stupid but a horror movie stereotype for abduction rape and murder. Him not taking her friends should have been a HUGE red flag.
True story: Yes back then things were a lot different. I hitch-hiked ONE time...and got the shock of my life. The car was new, he looked clean and well dressed, very mannerly...I thought...whew this is good. I got in and as we drove off...I noticed...NO car door opener on my side...just paneling. A chill came over me. I had one way to get out...over him. I knew something bad was going to happen. We talked and I kept him laughing, trying to act like I had not noticed anything wrong. We had to stop for gas..he told me to stay in the car and not get out. I started holding myself saying I really really had to go pee. He got mad but said ok..but make it quick.The restroom was on the outside so I took off to it...but kept running around the building and ran to the nearby little cafe and ran in. I went behind the counter and ducked down. A woman and the manager came and I told them about the man and the car door. The man went into a little room by the kitchen and came out saying help is coming...they are just 4 miles away...stay put where you are. I did. Within minutes a hwy. patrol car came and the woman said "You can come out now sweetie" and I did. I told the officer everything. As he walked outside my ride took off in a cloud of dust. Another hwy. patrol car pulled in and they both took off after the man. The woman stayed with me until a lady cop from the near by town came for me. Did I freak out for no reason ? I say...NO and never hitch-hiked again.
@@infinitejest.4994 Yes, but I learned a big lesson from it
Wow you were really smart to realize early on about his intentions. You definitely did the right thing. But you were also incredibly lucky that he had to stop for gas. What could have happened if he never stopped. Really glad that you're ok
@@aakashsaini2526 I agree...it was hard to try and keep calm
Thank God you made it!!
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊
Wow. She is a survivor for sure. A strong women most definitely. What a very scary situation.
She's a tough cookie and very brave!
The thing is, they said he attacked another woman 10 years after his release from his prison sentence for nearly killing Mary....who here believes that during that 10-year period he didn't attack and murder any other women? There are so many cold cases of murders and disappearances that haven't been solved. I find it highly unlikely that he behaved himself during those 10 years and even BEFORE he attacked Mary. This guy knew what he was doing and Mary was probably not his first rodeo.
I just can't comprehend that kind of thinking and it is so frightening to know that it is out there. I know it has happened and still does, but I just can't make sense of how people can do this kind of stuff. It hurts me to think about.
Very frightening but good point-
Because of his demeaner I bet your right he seemed like an experienced serial killer.
He was in his 50's in this story so it's likely this vile incident wasn't the first. It makes me wonder how many people got away with murder because we didn't have DNA technology.
Why the f was he ever released from prison?!? That’s the important question.
I remember reading about this when it happened. Horror, about a young girl running naked down road with arms in the air. But she survived. That goes to show the will to live is a real thing.
What he did to her was horrendous. He almost killed that poor girl. Then to threaten her as she was leaving, I would have turned to the judge and say he just threatened me!!! What a brave and amazing woman. As for MrBallen, what a great storyteller and love his channel. I wish she would have listened to her instincts and to that other couple. But maybe she was the one meant to survive and put him away.
I love the narrative that "hitchhiking would be too dangerous these days," yet crime was at an all-time high back in the 1970s. Hitchhiking has always been dangerous.
Right, just like in the 80s I could go all over my neighborhood on my bike all hours of the day, knowing which houses pervs lived at so I'd pedal faster. I remember messed up stuff happening to kids often. But people will say "I miss when it was safe enough for us to stay out until the street lights came on".... scuse me? It wasn't safe, it was just accepted parental behavior lol
@@heidileigh7023 AMEN SISTER.
Good wishes 🕊️❤️⚖️💪🏻💪🏻
Well.... how do you think we figured out that hitchhiking is dangerous?
I used to hitchhike all the time in the 70's. A handful of serial killers were well-known, but we thought it was rare. Many of the 70's serial killers weren't caught until the 80's or 90's. I wouldn't do it now. I'm not so sure that the "all time high" was in the 70's. Some of today's SKs might not be caught until the 2030's.
Hitchhiking has always a risky thing to do. But to say crime was at an all time high in the 70s is a complete non truth. Violent crime prior to the last 3 years was already up 40% from 1990 and 60% from 1970. That is public record. They're were more people killed in rioting & mass shootings over the last couple of years than every Serial killer victims combined in history. That was in a news program about mass shootings on one of the Discovery networks.
Your reaction at 16:10 is how every single person I've seen react to it (including myself) has reacted. This story is nuts but even more nuts is human perseverence sometimes.
Who’s more evil?? The psychopath, or the justice system “ who’s HANDS ARE TIED” for doing that to a child and letting him murder this time.
I saw the irony in that!!!!
In the mid 90s my husband picked up a disheveled hitchhiker in the mountains of Colorado, with our 9 & 6 year old children in the car. The kids were very uncomfortable having him in the car. Gave him a ride to a bus station in Denver. After some discussion, we agreed he would not do that again.
yikes
That's incredibly stupid and reckless.
@@slipknot6789 Hence the discussion 😉
@@jeanneeco "Discussion" here being code for "i whipped him one" lol. My wife would have kicked my tail, rofl
Gotta remember van's were all the rage in the late 60s early 70s, they were hippy haulers. No one thought twice about jumping in a van.
Man, Jamel look. I’ve been trying to tell you this for a minute. So I’m just going to say it here. I didn’t even watch this video….this is a lot. My daughter took her life back in 2020. We were on lockdown in Bay Area which left me way too much time on my own despite plenty of support. My daughter and I always commiserated through me showing her movies and music. I loved watching her reactions. So now I watch reactors because it reminds me of her. But you, my friend, will always be the first. I will always remember you reacting just as my daughter did and your laidback peaceful vibe is so what I needed at that time. I think all too often we miss opportunities to tell people how they affected them positively. That’s not gonna happen here. Bless you. 🙏
I can't imagine the torrent of emotion you undoubtedly feel to this day. I am truly sorry that has happened and am saddened by the loss of your daughter. That you felt strongly enough to relay that tragedy here says a lot about what Jamel has been doing in bringing this community together. Jamel is a tremendous individual, and he has touched many people in positive ways. It is our privilege knowing that he has brought us together and in knowing that you should also recognize you are never alone. There are others in this world that harbor grief and we all do what we must to survive. Carry on, brother. We are here for you.
@@schmidington thank you. I just felt it needed to be said. Didn’t know how else to do it. Thank you so much. Every kind word means a ton.
Very sorry for your heart-wrenching loss. It is understandable why you couldn't watch. I had the same reaction at first but know Jamal well enough to know he's not going to post something frivolously violent. This is a saga of a superhuman will to live and the perverse coddling of a psychopath let loose by lax laws resulting from leftist activists who think every criminal is a persecuted saint.
So sorry for your loss. It's heartbreaking. I lost a friend like this . I was too young and dumb too see he was struggling. If I could go back and have a chance too talk to him before he pulled the trigger I would. Peace and blessings
My condolences. This is heartbreaking.
I remember growing up being told by my parents to never park by a van or even walk by one, I still follow that rule to this day.
Loving the diversity of your channel subject matter . Your music reactions are great , but your expanded discussion has opened so many avenues . The world is your oyster , we enjoy your pearls.
I was driving to TX From NV a few years ago and a man was on the side of the road hitchhiking. I remember how he looked because it was getting dark but it was not completely night time yet. So it wasn't super dark outside. I ended up stopping at the stop sign where he was standing. He had on a grayish colored jacket , longish dark hair, he was a white guy who I thought was just homeless. Kinda like a hippie type. When I got to my hotel in TX, I was bored as hell trying to find something to watch on tv because I got tired of scrolling Reddit, so I just watched the news. About 20 minutes into the program, the anchors were asking people to watch out for a serial r*pist in the Houston area. And she gave the description. That man who was hitchhiking was the serial rapist!! I called my parents with the quickness! I'm glad I am not gullible and that nice to go around picking up random strangers.
Stay safe, stay Blessed, Good Stranger.
Hitch hiking was commonplace in the 1970's. A thumb in the air and a backpack almost always assured a ride. I hitch hiked from Florida to California the summer after I graduated to see the country and never had any problems. Most times those who picked me up would offer a big fat doobie to ol' Doobie Dave and truckers were also great about giving hitchers a lift. You couldn't pay me enough to hitch these days, there is just too much evil out there. 🙏✌️
You're a man though.
It still is.
Firstly, it's incredible that she somehow survived all of what he did to her. But secondly, it is atrocious that he was able to do all that he did and only get 14 years. Then be out after 8 years for "good behaviour". I'm glad that what he did led to a change for harsher sentencing. But it's a change that shouldn't have needed to be made because it should have already been the case.
I had a bad enounter as well when I was 15..... A very tall young man who I think was about nineteen had hung out in my neighborhood all summer. I was very timid and while walking down the street.... he came up behind me and started talking to me, asking where was I going? I told him the grocery store. He turned to me and said, wait, my friend has a car, he'll give us a lift.... I said no, it's ok but he kept on insisting. Finally, he kind of took my arm and got into his friend's car and pulled me in too. The man started to drive past the store and I tried to get out but he wouldn't stop and the man next to me held my shoulders.We kept on driving till we came to a stretch of beach. By then it was starting to get dark and I struggled to get away from him. I was in a total panic. The driver started to drive on the sand, saying no, you're not getting out ! I continued to struggle, and thank God was able to grab the door handle and open the door. He drove faster and I flung myself out ot the car and hit the sand . I ran and I ran till I saw a house that was half built and I started screaming. God watched over me, there was a night watchman in the house and came to see what had happened. He called the Police and they took me home. Never saw either one of them again. I got much smarter after that and never put myself in that kind of danger again.
I knew who this story was going to be about before I even started watching. Incredible that she lived....that guy is a monster!!
I'm a 63 year old woman and used to hitchhike when I was 16. I didn't drive but when I needed to get somewhere I would stick out my thumb and catch a ride. Nothing bad ever happened to me but I think back now and realize how lucky I was.
The 60's and 70's was the peace and love genre..I grew up in that genre, being born in the mid 50's..however those genres also had the likes of Ted Bundy, the boston strangler, Richard Speck to name a few..and the Manson Family..lets not forget them...yes, it was the hippie movement, but there were also many dangers then and even mor dangerous since then and now..there are some sickoz out there..be aware of your surroundings and never put yourself in a situation that can lead to these kind of things..stay safe..don't travel alone..no matter who you identify as 💖
I never knew this was a real story. This was a story they told us kids when they warned about the dangers of hitchhiking. Stupid thing is I still would hitchhike when I was a teenager back in the 80's and I am also in California. I did have 2 scary experiences (1 should have been enough, but I was dumb back then). I look back now and cringe thinking how easily I too could have ended up in a ditch dead somewhere. The strength this girl had, that will to live is incredible to hear about. It's almost unbelievable if there wasn't proof. To live through that and then to carry on to face him later, what a brave soul. I mean wow! Just wow!
I think people felt safer back in the day hitchhiking because we didn't have instant access to 24/7 news like we do now. Where I grew up, we were lucky to have 3 channels. Most of the time, we didn't hear about what was going on in other counties, let alone states. I got into true crime on RUclips about five years ago, thought I would find an answer to why someone did what they did, there is no rhyme or reason for evil. I'm so glad she lived, strong lady. I hope she's doing well today.
exactly
14 years. And how much do you get for possession of drug paraphernalia again? Without intent to sell.
Sickening.
Out in 8 years for "GOOD BEHAVIOR"...
I can't even.
Jamel's face when the white murder van showed up was classic! All of us true crime junkies know that nothing good happens in a van. Especially one from the 70s!
The van is called a panel van no windows on the sides It's the first thing you learn where I come from never ever get near one
As for her initially having a bad feeling about this guy- my mother always said “ You have a sixth sense, USE IT!”
Unbelievable what that sick monster did to that 15 year old child and then kills another woman?! Unfortunately there is some sick people in this world, can’t be too cautious, always be aware of your surroundings and never ignore your gut feeling!
I cannot imagine the pain the two friends feel.
How that child could EVER smile again is beyond me...
I’ve seen Mary tell her story on the show “I Survived”….it’s unbelievable.
I remember that episode.
I remember this story. She was on "I Survived". Shit's horribly tragic but I'm glad she lived and was able to make a life for herself. I can't even imagine going through that.
I've hitchhikede.
I had rules.
NO
vans
back seats
to anyone sittig behind me
to any and all offerings (food/water/cigarettes, etc)
to any vehicle without windows
to sitting between people.
loud music
and on and on.
Always took me forever but I MADE SURE they were HARMLESS.
I specifically chose harmless people.
Had a good time, gave them some cash and moved on.
ZERO issues.
I would NOT do it now.
I'm old enough to remember this horrific case. It's a miracle she survived and was rescued by passers by. Only hitchhiked once with a few friends just about a mile down at the beach. It's sad so many young people are still putting their lives in danger trusting strangers. 😔
What a wicked monster that man was. A terrible shame that he was able to get out, then murder another person. God bless Mary. What a fighter she is.
2:50 "Unfathomably dangerous" to take a ride from a stranger? Better not tell him about the existence of Uber!
This is what women see everyday, the monster got off after EIGHT YEARS because he "had good behavior!" Did they forget his behavior on Mary? Women just don't count, we know we do, but society doesn't. The prison time that men get compared to what women get when they finally fight back is not what I would call "justice"
What a horrific story. It gave me the chills.
Yeah I've heard this story it's amazing I can't believe that they couldn't put through more to him and couldn't do more to punish him thank God they finally changed that law though May her life be better than what it was may God give her strength to carry on cuz he had to just to make sure she survived thank God she did you take care and God bless
Praise God for being there for Mary! I would love too meet this woman! She had such will power. If that man would have said that too me walking at of the court room...woooooo! Lol!
One of the worst crimes ever. He should have been buried under the prison. Nightmare of a story. Never hitchhike. 😵
I felt that HARD when you pitched your headphones down...
Don't let evil consume you--- just like that phenomenal young woman did, *Live* !!!
Fight the *good* fight---
Continue to open eyes and hearts---
The devil HATES when one ( or better yet, *many* ! ) gets away!!!
She ran 3 miles, completely naked with no hands?! This is by far the most impressive person I have ever heard of.
4:16 Damn, society really has us conditioned to have a reaction to that type of vehicle.🤣
One of the most harrowing stories. I heard this on Morbid: A True Crime Podcast probably five years ago, and it sticks with me to this day. The tenacity of that 15 YEAR OLD GIRL and her will to survive....truly remarkable
I'm right there with you, Brother. Disgusting. Too many times the criminals have more rights than the victims.
This whole story was extremely upsetting to me. God bless this lady and her family. I’ve always taught my kids and grandkids that if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. I’m not saying that this is her fault at all. Even animals run away from something that scares them. Humans don’t use our intuition. Something feels funny and we ignore it. Too bad this monster died before he fried.
At least he wont harm or rather kill again
I have been waiting for you to see this one. It is infuriating! Yet another reason for everyone to be a good human. We have real monsters out here folks.
And I love when you look at the scream slow 😂😂😂 Hilarious!
Mary is an impressive woman. It's also somewhat evident that he was not very knowledgable about medical stuff, because if she is still bleeding profusely, her heart is still beating, and she is still alive. Had this happened in the modern day, her left hand would've gotten him caught, had she not survived, because of the probability of her hand either leaving a mark on him, or at least transferring DNA. I can't imagine losing my hands, especially because I am in a wheelchair.
I used to hitch hike back in my teen years. One time a guy started down a dirt road, I opened the door and jumped and ran! I was lucky. Never did it again after that. Luckily it HAD a handle on the door, unlike Bundy's car.
When was this? What about seat belt laws in the US? I mean, in Sweden it's the law always having it on since 1986. If you'd had one on you probably hadn't been able to flee. Did you have to time it to when he shifted or in a turn? Did you fall out, or did you step out?
@@camouflage81 It was in the early 70's, NO seat belt laws. It was an automatic car, no shifting. He had to slow down to take the corner and I jumped.
Hitchhiking is now called Uber.
This story is absolutely horrific. I don’t know how she was able to survive the attack and get herself anywhere in that condition. How do you put your life back together after something like this? It’s astonishing her mental and emotional strength.
I had a conversation with my son about this very case not long ago.
His face was exactly like yours during the telling of it.
What Mr. Ballen didn't say, is that Mary went on to become a talented, accomplished artist.
She's an amazing painter.
Mary has spoken about her ordeal, as hard as it is to listen to, I highly recommend watching her talk about it (she did an episode of I Survived, pretty sure it's on RUclips somewhere.)
Wow! I'm glad she had a strong will to live. I'm glad the SOB is gone. Thats awful.
I'm so happy you found Mr. Ballen!!
As EVIL as that "man" was/is she is even more COURAGEOUS and STRONG !!!
As a battle tested Marine who has seen things that most would assume were reserved for HELL ( looking at you Somalia and Rwanda ) I wish I had one one thousandth of her strength and resilience.
You know what's scary is here in the Santa Cruz mountains (California) there are people who still hitchhike! I never see it down in town, just our mountains. I just shake my head every time.
Yes, I too am old enough that I remember hitchhiking as a normal thing. Had some pretty funky experiences, but survived them all.
Another great video, thanks, Jamal.
Love these stories and your channel
You reacting to Mr. Ballen is just perfect ♥️
It was the fact of "Being a good human." People believed that everyone was still good, moral people back then. If you needed a ride and they're going that way, you HELP. This is when humans started loosing that faith, when monsters are men(and women.) I love your channel and moto, Jamal. Positivity of just being a good human, where theres a lack of. But this man, this story, is the opposite of your light. Thanks for reacting to the evil in people, it is very hard. But this goes to show the good in people is stronger. With love
I picked up hitchhikers with a flat tire. I drove them to the small town garage in my 1966 vw beetle.
Mary is a fighter, a survivor. He is a sicko I can't believe they let him out.
Just 14 years after what he did to Mary. The law is a joke!
I used to hitchhike all the time. Never had a bad experience. It was fun and adventurous!
Look into a story called A Higher Call. It’s WW2 story about an American bomber pilot Charlie Brown and a Luftwaffe fighter pilot named Franz Stigler. It’s one of the greatest WW2 stories many people have never heard of.
Unreal.thx for sharing.
One of my favorite MrBallen vids 🔥 Loved this one , remember when it dropped !
One of your favorites????
@@mossie1954 yeahh top 10 definitely 😂 hbu ?
@@GloJut64 . Nope, it made me sick to be quite honest, and very very upset for the lady who lost her arms, I can not even work out how she was sane after that.........But hay! ......whatever floats ya boat.
@@mossie1954 nooo I’m not saying it not a bad and sickening thing , I’m saying like Good story wise it’s one of my favorites that’s all 👌🏾
Using the mud to slow the blood loss made me feel nauseous. I mean, it clearly worked, but if she didn't get an infection, that is amazing. The arms above her head thing is something that, while I have known that that is a way to slow the bleeding, keeping it elevated above your heart, I would likely not have the consciousness to know that that is what I should do.
Much *less* holding her arms above her head for *3* miles... with broken ribs...
@@sharonwolfe5210 I can't even begin to process that. She is by far the most resilient person I know of.
@@disableddragonborn
Or, her balls are *just* as big as *ANY* Marine's...
They should give her an Honorary "thing"...
At only 15, she showed more resilience, more courage, more determination than grown men 3x her age with 3x the training...
She's grown now, and I CAN imagine the " Don't you EV-AR hitchhike, etc..." talks...
In the early 80s in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado I frequently hitchhiked, I was a 90lb 19 yr old wild child. Scares me to think it now 😳
I travel in my RV and I pick up some hitchhikers.. some in Lake Tahoe and Reno
They were cool .
My respect to Mary .A strong survivor...
I bet her description was spot on! You'd remember every detail of that monster!!
I been listening to Mr Ballen podcast for about a year now. If you get a chance, you should listen to his horror experience he had as a teen. He said he thinks this is why he is so interested in the Supernatural. PS, I also like to listen to your podcast too. You seem like such a good, strong, gentle man.
This was so damn common in the 70s and 80s... terrible
As a single female, I do not pick up hitchhikers. I was riding with my mother, who was in her 80's at the time, and we saw a hitchhiker. Biker type,6 ft 5 or so, over 250 lbs. MOM, don't stop! I yelled as she pulled over. Oh, that's just TINY, she said. It was a buddy of hers that enjoyed gardening with her on a regular basis. Ya just don't know by looking at people.🤣🤣🤣🤣
Your reactions to the evil in the these videos reassure me that most people are good and good men exist. God bless you.
The system is broken. BUT the only way we can fix it is by voting. We MUST vote. It's our only hope.
When I was a teenager and at 16 got my first car. My dad bought me a 1957 Chevy, ( this was in the year 1964) and the first thing my dad told me, never pick up a hitchhiker ( unless you really know them) unless they were my friends! So I didn't and even before that, my parents told me and never to hitch a ride with a stranger or even just an acquaintance! So once more I never did that either. Hitchhiking in the 60s and 70s was relatively ok and safe. But like my parents, I drove that hitchhiking was not a good way to go! and now days? OMG i wouldn't ever try to hitch hike!! I mean literally when I see a tan old Volkswagen, I see every one as a person like Ted Bundy!! Or the Freeway serial killers! Nope I had better be near dead before I would ever do one or the other!!! This world has made me a very cautious person! Of course I have a CCW so, I don't think about it much any longer! Having my 2nd amendment right on me..... Im pretty sure I know what that means to me more of a freedom than my right to free speech!
Love your T-shirt !❤️
When I was a kid my Dad would stop for hitchhikers. We had a VW van and seven of us kids, there were times my Dad would stop and whoever would see all of us and say no thanks!
I kid you not Jamel, I said THE VAN 😰at the same time as you, & with just as much dread! Husband is a 27yr retired cop so I’ve know about “the van” for years.
My cousin and I hitchhiked alot along the southern jersey shore area when on vacation with her family. They would pick quieter shore towns and we wanted more action like wildwood. We were very lucky nothing happened .... this was in the 70's
I can't even press the like button. Love you Jamel. I mean, we hear and read about these things all the time. Its bone chilling...but dag!
My Aunt's ex husband was killed and robbed by a hitchhiker.
I was raised in Colorado, I was in High School and was a member of the Ski club, we went on a ski trip, there was a man who kept pestering me on the slopes that day, every time I looked up there he was staring at me smiling, and kept trying to talk to me, I finally went to one of the Teachers who were chaperoning the trip and told him, this teacher was not only in the ski club, but was also my schools head football coach, and was in pretty buff shape, he went up to the man and had words about me being underaged, and the man left me alone after that, not quite 2 yrs. later Ted Bundy's picture was on the news after his arrest and I realized that was the man bothering me on the slopes that day, I showed his pic to the teacher who was still at my High school and we were both shocked!!.. that teacher very well may have saved my life that day. because Bundy did in fact kill 2 women in Colorado, he picked up at ski resorts. Shout out to Mr Bridgeton who passed away several years ago, my hero that day!!!
And here is a even scarier thought.. there are some states who are releasing these serial types back into society. Claiming awwwww poor prisoners, they deserve better rights, and a chance to show they are rehabilitated! BUT you can't change a wolf and expect him to stay a sheep once set back into the wild.. even phycologists are saying some states are playing some dangerous games.
I remember this story, I think she uses her feet as hands now, it’s amazing, she has children and was doing good later after losing her arms
I've hitched countless times over the past 30 yrs with no issue. Actually met sum great people I still speak too. This story is unfortunately highlighted the risk of hitching in a devastating way. We all have to remeber we looking at it in the past tense. We see all the dangers looking in at it. But at the time they asked they probably felt relief. She should never have gone on her own that's the golden rule though.
A few years ago I seen a retired FBI agent. He said since 9II, they didn't have the resources to look for serial killers. He said most of the people that's been missing are probably dead.
I was a teenager during most of the 70's and it was a very common site to see hitch hikers. Once there was a girl that looked about 18 hitch hiking and my friend and I stopped to see were she was looking to go so we opened the door and as she started to get in this older dirty looking guy (kinda of looked like he could have been a charlie Manson relative) came out of the ditch next to the road and grabbed the car door handle and said they were together. It was a two door car so my friend said we didn't have room and I drove off with the guy holding the door handle for a few feet before letting go. This guy gave us a uneasy feeling. We didn't want to take a chance that he had a gun and would have been sitting behind us. I never pulled over for a hitchhiker again.
The current legal system in this country is all sorts of messed up.
Listen, I’ve been watching you for long enough to know that your actually a good man, please be careful watching these I have a couple of cases that haunt me and I can handle it. Take care
ur a good man keep up the good work
Please J, no more like this. I come here for peace and relaxation. Your channel, your rules, but please think about it.
Mr.J I heard ur disgrace n despair in ur voice its sad that people like this exist to harm our children. God will get him!! Hopefully he already has.
as soon as i heard the hitch hiker part i knew what is going to happen
I've only hitchhiked once, Back when i was in high school, i spent the weekend at a friends parents place like 40 miles away, and we were supposed to catch the bus early morning monday monring to make it to school. Well wild weekend we overslept, and this is in the middle of january and theres like 2 and a half feet of fresh snow on the ground. So we started walking the 10 miles to get to the bust station. bout 2 miles out we started trying to hitchhike, and this nice lady and her 4 kids pull up in a Lincoln Continental and gave us a ride. It was noon before we got into town, so i ended up just skippin class =)
That monster did 14 years for that heinous stuff and yet in some states there are people literally life in prison (with no chance of parole) for something petty like possession of weed. Its insane. There's no fairness or justice in the world.
I have both hitchhiked (from when I wasn't old enough to have a driver's license) and picked up hitchhikers (after, obviously.) Hitchhiking was a pretty normal mode of transportation where I lived. This was a long time ago (20-35 years), so obviously, this isn't something people thought about much.
I think the last time I was approached for a ride was a couple of years before covid hit -- two backpackers with GIGANTIC backpacks, which I had to turn down becase my car simply didn't have the space left over to accomodate both of them. It wasn't a "thumbs up" situation; we were approached on a gas station we had stopped at.
A more normal thing for me when I hitchhiked would be them asking me my name, and when I told them, I'd basically get my whole family tree described. (Oh, so you are the son of so-and-so, and so-and-sho were your grandparents and your great grandparents and so forth.
Getting into a strangers VAN - not only stupid but a horror movie stereotype for abduction rape and murder. Him not taking her friends should have been a HUGE red flag.
As a kid growing up in the mid 80's we were always told to stay away from the white cargo van.