RIGHT TO THE CHIN

Did I ever tell you about the time I was almost abducted…I think?

The heart wrenching kidnapping and murder of Carlie Brucia in Florda and the rumor of a sick freak who’s trying to snatch kids in the Red Bank area reminds me of the time something similar almost happened to me. I think.

I moved here in 1993. At the time, I attended UTC, didn’t have a car, and would often take the bus if I wanted to go somewhere. One spring afternoon in 1994, I decided to take the bus to Hamilton Place, and while waiting at the bus stop on the corner of Market and MLK, I experienced something that still gives me chills to this day.

The next bus was still 10 minutes away, and while I waited, a green Toyota Tercel pulled up and the driver rolled down the passenger side window. The guy was pale, was wearing a Ted Bundy-esque sling on his left arm, and looked like he’d just come from an altercation of some sort. He had what appeared to be bloody cuts on his right arm, his cheek, and his forehead, and kept looking back over his right shoulder in a very panicked way as the following exchange occurred between the two of us:

Guy in car: “Hey, don’t I know you?”
Me: “No, I don’t think so.”
Guy in car: “Are you sure? You sure look familiar.”
Me: “No man, I really don’t think so.”
Guy in car: “Ok, well, where are you going?”
Me: “I’m waiting for the bus.”
Guy in car: “Oh, well it sure is hot out here. Do you want a ride?”
Me: “No, man…I’m good. I’m just gonna wait for the bus.”
Guy in car: “Are you sure? It’s really hot out here. Are you sure I don’t know you?”
Me: “No, man. I’m good. I’m waiting for the bus.”

With that, he sped off. I stood there for a few moments wondering what, exactly, had just happened. The only other guy at the bus stop gave me a raised-eyebrow look as if to say, “I don’t know either, man.”

Was he trying to kill me? I try not to think about it because it’s just too creepy. The look in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine, and I often wonder where he sped off to. Did he ever get what he was after that day? Why didn’t I think to write down his license plate number?

At the time, I was 20 years old, a little over six feet tall, and weighed about 180 pounds. Hardly resembling Carlie Brucia. But I, too, was prey, nonetheless.

When I watch the surreal footage of Joe Smith grabbing Carlie’s arm and pulling her off camera - and off this planet - I want to reach through the screen and crush his skull. The girl was 11 years old. And she would soon die.

Keep an eye on your kids.