Teen To Receive Award For Saving Rape Victim

After being kidnapped and raped, a woman finds refuge and safety.

A Michigan 14-year-old is set to receive a lifesaving award at a county commission meeting later this month, after saving a woman from her alleged attacker. James Persyn III was home with his two siblings Wednesday while their father drove a few miles to pick up his fiancée from work. Suddenly, the children said they heard loud banging on the door and a woman screaming, “Let me in! Let me in!”

The woman, who is not being identified, was a senior at Central Michigan University and had been on her way to her car when an armed man approached her and forced her into the passenger seat. The attacker taped her hands, bound her and then sexually assaulted her. He later told her he was going to kill her. Fearing for her life, the woman jumped out of the moving vehicle and ran to the nearest house—meeting James.

According to police, James let her in, locked all the doors and made everyone hide in the bathroom—the only room with no windows—as Eric Ramsey, the alleged attacker, tried to enter. Giving up, Ramsey lit the house on fire and fled. James Persyn Jr., the father, arrived in time to put the fire out and meet the police that were called. After being spotted by police, Ramsay began ramming multiple police vehicles. He was eventually gunned down by a deputy. (ABC News)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]