Karen Sparks Epley
American accountant (born 1955)
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Karen Sparks Epley (born 1955) is an American accountant and advocator.[1] She is a survivor who is widely recognized as the first known victim of serial killer Ted Bundy.[2][1] For decades, she remained anonymous in true crime literature, often referred to by the pseudonym "Joni Lenz", "Mary Adams" and "Terri Caldwell".[3][4][5] She broke her silence in 2020 to share her story in the Amazon Prime docuseries Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.[1][6]
1955 (age 70–71)
Mary Adams
Terri Caldwell
- Accountant
- Advocator
- Human rights activist
Karen Sparks Epley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karen Sparks 1955 (age 70–71) Seattle, Washington, U. S. |
| Other names | Joni Lenz Mary Adams Terri Caldwell |
| Education | University of Washington |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
In 1974, Sparks was an 18-year-old student at the University of Washington in Seattle.[7] She was a dancer and lived in a basement apartment in the city's University District.[1][3]
1974 attack
On the night of January 4, 1974, Ted Bundy entered Sparks' apartment while she was asleep.[8] Bundy used a metal rod—reportedly a piece of her own bedframe—to bludgeon her, causing a massive skull fracture. He then used the same rod to sexually assault her, causing severe internal injuries and a ruptured bladder.[1]
Sparks lay in a pool of blood for approximately 18 to 20 hours before being found by her roommate.[9] She remained in a coma for 10 days. She believes she was spared from death because her roommate Chunk was heard talking in his sleep, which may have spooked Bundy into fleeing.[1][3]
The attack left Sparks with permanent physical and neurological disabilities. She had permanent brain damage and a period of epileptic fits. She has sensory problems, a 50% loss of hearing, a 40% loss of vision, and constant tinnitus (ringing in the ears).[1]
Karen's father played a critical role in her recovery, refusing medical advice to place her in a nursing home and instead helping her relearn to walk and speak.[1]
Later life and career
She deliberately chose to live a private life to avoid being defined by the attack. She became a successful accountant.[1]
After 46 years of anonymity, Sparks appeared in the 2020 Amazon Prime documentary Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.[1] Her appearance debunked long-standing media rumors that she had been permanently institutionalized due to brain damage.[1] In 2021, she participated in a roundtable discussion with other survivors for the Fox Nation special Surviving Bundy with Nancy Grace.[10]
Personal life
Advocacy
General and cited sources
- Michaud, Stephen; Aynesworth, Hugh (1983). The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy. New York City: Linden Press / Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671449-61-2.
- Michaud, Stephen; Aynesworth, Hugh (August 1999) [1983]. The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy (Paperback; revised ed.). Irving, Texas: Authorlink Press. ISBN 978-1-928704-11-9. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- Keppel, Robert (2005). The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer (Paperback ed.). New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0-7434-6395-9.
- Rule, Ann (1980). The Stranger Beside Me (First ed.). New York and London: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-01399-5.
- Rule, Ann (1989). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; revised and updated ed.). New York City: Signet Books. ISBN 978-0-451-16493-3.
- Rule, Ann (2000). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; updated 20th anniversary ed.). New York: Signet Books. ISBN 978-0-451-20326-7.
- Rule, Ann (2009). The Stranger Beside Me (Paperback; updated 2009 ed.). New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-5959-7.
- Sullivan, Kevin M. (2009). The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History (Paperback ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Co. ISBN 978-0-7864-4426-7.
- Sullivan, Kevin (2020). The Enigma of Ted Bundy: The Questions and Controversies Surrounding America's Most Infamous Serial Killer (ebook ed.). Denver, Colorado: WildBlue Press. ISBN 978-1-952225-37-6. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.