Brad DevereauxMeet Bailey Stell.
She saved herself from death after a brutal attack by two people.
They ran her over twice and left her to bleed out and die on a rural dead-end road in Kalamazoo County.
She stood up and headed into the woods.
www.mlive.com/news/kalamaz...
#crime #michigan #news #survivor 🧵
Stell was at her home near Oakland/Howard in Kalamazoo on June 30, 2024. She called an acquaintance she knew as Detroit. He came over with a woman and cocaine.
Stell and Detroit did the cocaine. She made him coffee.
She mentioned her student loan deposited, about $2,000.
#news #crime #michigan 🧵
Things took a turn on a rural road miles from her home.
They turned a knife on her and asked for her bank account PIN.
She gave them the numbers one by one, withholding the last digit.
She was stabbed and choked. She told them she wanted to watch the stars outside as she died.
#crime #news #kzoo
She played dead.
She heard one of them say "she'll bleed out."
Her plan worked, but they weren't done. They ran her over twice while leaving in the car.
Stell watched while lying on the road, as their taillights turned the corner and disappeared.
#crime #news #michigan #survival #story 🧵
That's when Bailey Stell stood up and headed into the woods.
She remembers falling a lot.
She would count to two and stand up each time, pushing forward.
She was calm and calculated.
Trudging through thick brush.
Focused on survival.
#crime #michigan #news #journalism #article #resilience
She climbed a fence and kept moving.
She came upon a house and saw an open window.
Her body gave out in the yard, drained from being beaten and losing blood.
That's when the story took another turn with an unlikely hero helping Stell complete the rescue:
#news #kalamazoocounty #crime #mi
A small dog named Sojourner was the only one awake in the house.
The dog, a one-eyed rescue, wouldn't leave its owner alone, Stell said.
The dog barked until its owner went to the door.
In the yard, the homeowner found Stell, fighting for her life.
Sojourner and Bailey Stell.
#dogs #news #crime
Stell testified at Lee's trial. She pointed to him when asked to identify her attacker.
The coffee cup she served to Lee, with his fingerprints still on it, was submitted as evidence.
Stell faced cross examination from Lee's attorney and gave details of the attack.
#court #truecrime #news #crime
Julius Lee appeared at the trial in a white shirt. He sat next to his attorney as Stell described how Lee and Stevens attacked her.
They wouldn't stop, Stell said as the jury looked on.
“I realized I couldn’t find my way out and I tried to plead to their humanity."
#crime #news #michigan #crime
On Sept. 5, a jury found Julius Lee guilty as charged on six counts including assault with intent to murder.
He briefly answered questions from the judge in one-word responses during a sentencing on Oct. 27.
He was sentenced to 40-60 years in prison.
#michigan #crime #court #photography #news
Lee looked injured in court. I asked the undersheriff about it.
He reported to jail staff he hit his head while exercising. Though another inmate later presented with injuries as well, so officials say it's possible the injuries are due to an altercation though they denied that.
#jail #news #crime
Detroit is currently in Jackson as he makes his way in the prison system. Detroit (Julius Lee) has July 15, 2064, listed as his earliest release date.
(MDOC images)
#michigan #crime #news #court #truecrime #prison
Stephanie Stevens is at the Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, with an earliest release possible release date listed as April 23, 2043.
MDOC lists a tattoo - left forearm: "ohana" and alias Stephanie Frisbie.
#news #michigan #prison #kalamazoocounty#kzoo #justice #journalism
Stell's parents shared words at Lee's sentencing Oct. 27.
“I ask that you make sure Julius Lee will never be able to harm another human and cause this much pain for any family,” mom Jennifer Stell said.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW7l...
#court #news #video #journalism #impact #statement
Survivor’s parents read impact...
Survivor’s parents read impact...
Survivor’s parents read impact statements at sentencing
Bailey Stell is ready to move forward.
She's chosen to find a way to find something positive about the horrible experience, using it as a way to help make changes.
She found strength.
“I just didn’t want to die,” Stell said. “But I also put two people who are very dangerous, away.”
#grandrapids
Watch Stell describe the attack and how she escaped.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiL9...
I want to thank Bailey Stell for her courage to share her story. Also thanks to her mom and the other sources and my colleagues who helped me report on this important topic.
Thanks to Sojourner, the rescue dog.
Woman fights to survive brutal...
Woman fights to survive brutal...
Woman fights to survive brutal attack: 'I didn't want to die'
It was inspiring to meet Bailey and interview her. Her outlook on life is one I think people could learn from.
She's taking life one step at a time and now that's she's escaped near death, she can do anything.
I hope her story can help others. If you're facing a challenge, this mindset can help.