Karen Chandler Pryor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1957 (age 68–69)
- Assistant buyer
- Fashion designer
- Advocator
- Human rights activist
Karen Chandler Pryor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karen Chandler 1957 (age 68–69) St. Petersburg, Florida, U. S. |
| Other names | Karen Pryor |
| Education | Florida State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2009 – present |
| Spouse | Ross Pryor (husband) |
| Children | 2 |
Karen Chandler Pryor (born 1957) is an American fashion industry professional and advocate known for surviving an attack by serial killer Ted Bundy.[1][2] As a senior at Florida State University (FSU) in 1978, she was one of four women targeted during Bundy's frenzied assault on the Chi Omega sorority house.[3][1]
Pryor grew up in St. Petersburg and Tallahassee, Florida.[1] Driven by a lifelong interest in clothing and textiles, she enrolled at Florida State University specifically for its highly regarded program in that field.[1] She joined the Chi Omega sorority during the fall of her freshman year.[1]
The Chi Omega Attack
In the early hours of January 15, 1978, Bundy entered the Chi Omega house while the residents were asleep.[1] After fatally attacking two other women, he entered the room shared by Chandler and her roommate, Kathy Kleiner.[1][4]
Bundy bludgeoned the women with a heavy oak firewood limb.[1] Chandler was the first victim found after the attack; she was discovered staggering down the hallway, severely injured and dripping blood.[1] Chandler suffered catastrophic trauma, including a broken jaw, four knocked-out teeth, a skull fracture, a broken right arm, and a crushed index finger.[1] The attack ended when the headlights of a car—driven by a sorority sister Nita Neary's boyfriend—spooked Bundy, causing him to flee before he could inflict fatal injuries.[1][5]
Legal testimony
On July 10, 1979, Chandler testified against Bundy in his Miami murder trial.[6] While on the stand, she stated she had no visual memory of her attacker, only the sound of a "loud banging noise" and being loaded into an ambulance.[6] Her testimony, along with that of other survivors, was instrumental in securing Bundy's conviction on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.[6]
Later life
Following her recovery, Pryor graduated from FSU and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she began a career as an assistant buyer for Rich's department store.[6]
Personal life
She married Ross Pryor, an engineer, and they have two children, Kelly Pryor and Cary Pryor.[6]
Advocacy
For decades, Pryor maintained a private life, with even close friends unaware of her history until the 2019 release of the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile sparked renewed media interest.[7] In recent years, she has participated in several documentaries and podcasts, such as the NYU You Matter! podcast, to shift the focus from the killer to the victims and survivors.[7]
In Popular Culture
- She was portrayed by actress Marietta Melrose in the 2021 film Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman.