Survivor of 1980s "Vampire Rapist" Kidnapping Speaks Out After 37 Years

In November 1985, 19-year-old Laura Murphy was found crawling naked and handcuffed along a Florida roadside, her body missing nearly half its blood, after surviving more than 20 hours of torture by a man investigators later suspected in 24 to 30 disappearances and homicides across multiple states.

Murphy had been hitchhiking when John Crutchley, a clean-cut engineer with a secret obsession, offered her a ride. Crutchley then choked Murphy unconscious, dragged her into his home, and raped her while using medical syringes to drain nearly half her blood. After about 22 hours, Murphy escaped and staggered to the roadside for help.

Authorities in five states reviewed unsolved murders potentially tied to Crutchley, who was dubbed the "Vampire Rapist" after Murphy's escape. Though they believed he may have been involved in up to 24 slayings, Crutchley was only convicted of kidnapping and sexual battery in 1986. He was released on parole in 1996 but returned to prison two years later for a drug conviction. On March 30, 2002, Crutchley was found dead in his cell, with investigators determining his death was an accidental act of autoerotic asphyxiation.

Murphy was hospitalized and eventually recovered, but has remained out of the public eye since the attack 37 years ago.