OM DENNE EPISODE
On December 18, 1994, 27-year-old Alison Botha was heading home after a night out with friends in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It should've been just another night. Instead, she was abducted outside her apartment by two men who would go on to commit one of the most horrific attacks I've ever covered.
Alison was sexually assaulted, stabbed more than 30 times, and had her throat slashed so severely that her attackers were convinced there was no way she could survive.
And yet, somehow, she did.
What gets me about this case isn't just the severity of Alison's injuries. It's the fact that she was still conscious, still fighting, and somehow managed to get herself to a place where someone could find her. I genuinely don't know how she did it.
In this episode of Case in 20, we're talking about what happened to Alison that night, the two men responsible, how they were brought to justice, and the controversy surrounding their eventual release on parole.
But we're also talking about the life Alison went on to build, because as horrific as this case is, I don't want her story to be remembered only for what those men did to her.
Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of sexual assault, kidnapping, attempted murder, and graphic injuries. Please listen with care.
🎙️ While the House Sleeps — True crime stories that stay with you long after the lights go out.
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and I'll catch you in the next one… While the House Sleeps.
