On May 19, 1977, 20-year-old Colleen Stan left her home in Eugene, Oregon, planning to hitchhike 400 miles to a friend’s birthday party in California. She had hitchhiked before and trusted her instincts, turning down a few rides before accepting one from a young couple with a baby.

That couple was Cameron and Janice Hooker—and within hours, Colleen’s life would change forever.

What started as a seemingly safe ride turned into a years-long nightmare of captivity, abuse, and psychological control. Locked in a small coffin sized box for days at a time and manipulated through fear of a mysterious organization called “The Company,” Colleen endured unimaginable suffering.

This week, we unpack the chilling and complicated story of Colleen Stan—how she was kidnapped, how her captors managed to keep her hidden in plain sight for years, and how she finally escaped.

Sources:

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1771222.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Colleen_Stan

https://people.com/where-is-colleen-stan-now-girl-in-the-box-kidnapping-8648943