A Valley woman believes her attack could be connected to a string of kidnappings and assaults.

PHOENIX — A Valley woman attacked 14 years ago is sharing her story for the first time after a similar case prompted detectives to take another look.

The woman, who asked to only be identified by her first name, Krystal, told 12News she was kidnapped and assaulted when she was 26 years old.

“I thought I was going to die. I thought I was really going to die,” Krystal said.

It was a hot summer day in 2011 when Krystal said a man offered to give her a ride home. She accepted, and still remembers the feeling in her stomach when he drove right past her destination. 

“I’m like, ‘Hey, you were supposed to turn,’  and I didn’t even get to finish the sentence, and he hit me,” Krystal said.

Krystal said the man continued to hit her and told her he planned to take her to a trailer near 43rd Avenue and Van Buren Street. When they approached the intersection, she made her escape.

“The light turned yellow, he slowed down, and I unlocked and just jumped. He tried to speed off, but I just jumped,” Krystal said.

Two bystanders helped Krystal call 911, but even after searching nearby and looking through a photo line-up, she said police were never able to find the man who attacked her.

“None of them looked familiar to me at all, and I thought, how could I forget. I didn’t understand, but none of them looked familiar,” Krystal said about the photo line-up.

News of a recent arrest jogged Krystal’s memory. She believes a man recently arrested on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault dating back to the 90s is the same person.

“I seen the picture and it was him. It was him,” Krystal said.

Phoenix Police confirmed they’re investigating Krystal’s report to see if the cases could be connected.

“I know they have a strong case now, but if a little case will help, then I’m all for it,” Krystal said. 

Krystal said she still thinks about what could have happened if she hadn’t jumped out of the car that day, but she said she’s thankful she had the strength to do it. 

“I didn’t want to die. If we would have pulled into those trailers, I wouldn’t have had a chance,” Krystal said.


Watch 12News+ for free 

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere, thanks to the 12News+ app! 

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. 

12News+  showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. 

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. 

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.” 

Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. 


Up to Speed

Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.