Wicked and Grim: A True Crime Podcast · Ben Gibson

72 Minutes of Hell - Erinn Orcutt - Survival Story

·1 hr 9 min·7 clips

identified as jeffrey jelinek a correctional officer for the state of california

The episode opens with promotional setup before the story takes over. From there, it stays tightly focused on one terrifying stretch of Erin's ordeal. While the man in the SUV is distracted by his phone, the gun slips from his hand and lands near the front passenger seat. Erin sees that the weapon is no longer controlling the situation, and she quickly checks the layout of her own vehicle. Because of her son's car seat, the rear passenger-side door has child safety locks engaged, which leaves the rear driver's-side door as her only possible exit from inside the SUV. She stays quiet and waits, trying to keep her nerve until his attention is fully elsewhere. Then she reaches for the handle, opens the door, and throws herself out of the vehicle. The story follows her as she runs across the parking lot screaming for help, desperate for someone to notice. Nearby security cameras capture the escape, and the footage later confirms her account in detail. From there, the narrative shifts to the liquor store across the parking lot, where the owner notices that something is wrong as she arrives. The hosts close by praising Erin's strength and asking listeners to sit with what she survived. They end in their warm, grateful way, thanking listeners and reminding them the show is independently produced.

As heard by us

A narrow window, a fast choice, and a hard run to safety.

This episode works best when it stays close to the mechanics of escape, and it does. A brief distraction, a gun on the floor, child safety locks, a parked SUV, one usable door.

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Why you'd press play

For a parking-lot escape that turns on one rear door handle.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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