Psychologists call them “Triumphant Survivors,” but Phyllis Cottle was more than a survivor, she used her crime to better herself and the world around her.
In 1984, Phyllis was kidnapped, raped, robbed, stabbed repeatedly in both eyes and left to die in a burning car. Detectives called her a “living homicide victim” because she was blinded in the attack and could not identify her rapist, but Phyllis was no victim. Throughout her hours-long ordeal she never panicked, opting instead to channel a sort of controlled rage to catch her abuser.
Phyllis turned into a detective and inspired thousands of traumatized women who were looking for a superhero and found one in this tenacious survivor.
In this upcoming podcast, journalist Carol Costello will revisit the first big assignment she covered as a 22-year-old, novice reporter, sharing how the story unfolded and her experiences in an ‘eighties-era newsroom.
