One of Evansville's most well-known community members is Holly Dunn Pendleton. She took a tragedy that happened to her while she was in college and made it into a positive force in the community.

On August 28, 1997, just as she was starting her junior year of college at the University of Kentucky, Holly Dunn and her boyfriend, Chris Maier, were walking along railroad tracks on their way home from a party when they were attacked by notorious serial killer Angel Maturino Reséndiz, aka The Railroad Killer. After her boyfriend is beaten to death in front of her, Holly is stabbed, raped, and left for dead. In this memoir of survival and healing from a horrific true crime, Holly recounts how she lived through the vicious assault, helped bring her assailant to justice, and ultimately found meaning and purpose through service to victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes, working as a motivational speaker and activist and founding Holly's House, a safe and nurturing space in her hometown of Evansville, Indiana. -Amazon.com

Holly founded victim advocacy center Holly's House and speaks publicly about her tragedy to help others. And in the fall of 2015, Holly collaborated with author Heather Ebert to pen a memoir, Sole Survivor: The Inspiring True Story of Coming Face to Face with the Infamous Railroad Killer.

The book starts in Holly's childhood and recalls details of her rape, attempted murder, and her witnessing the murder of her boyfriend. It goes on to outline the events that took place after the unspeakable crime and her journey to healing. Holly told us that she sought out books to help her when she was raw with emotion and is hoping that her book will help those who are hurting.

You can pre-order the book via Amazon currently and it will be distributed in November.

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