Omaha native Bridget Kelly named ABC 'Person of the Week'

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

An Omaha native who survived a horrific attack in Texas 10 years ago and then decided to help others by sharing her story was named "Person of the Week" by ABC News on Friday.

Bridget Kelly, daughter of World-Herald columnist Michael Kelly, was married recently in New York to ABC News producer Eric M. Strauss. Bridget met Eric when he worked on her story for ABC's "Primetime" in 2004.

Michael Kelly's July 15 column about the wedding, which talked about how something wonderful --- his daughter's relationship with his new son-in-law --- came from the horror and pain of the attack, drew the attention of the New York Times. The Times asked Kelly to expand on his column and tell its readers more about the couple's relationship. He did so, and the Times published the story and two photos on its website. The story and photos also led the “Vows” section of the printed Times last Sunday.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120727/NEWS/120729526/1685#omaha-native-bridget-kelly-named-abc-person-of-the-week

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Click here to watch Part 1 of the 2004 ABC "Primetime" episode featuring Bridget Kelly.

Click here to watch Part 2.

[Archae]

1. Something I never see...

Did they ever catch the fuckwad who tried to kill her?

[chalky]

2. There's a link to a lovely tribute to her rescuer, written by her father

Sadly, Frank James passed away in March.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120318/NEWS01/703189924/1685#kelly-daughter-s-protector-now-gone

He covered and stayed with the 24-year-old woman — who had been abducted by a stranger and raped — and protected her until police and rescuers arrived. After she was saved in hours of surgery, he and his family visited in the hospital.

The woman was our Omaha-born daughter, at the time a first-grade teacher at nearby Fort Hood. On a night of horror that also saw many heroes, Frank was her first. We have stayed in touch over the past decade, honoring his friendship and his role in helping to save Bridget's life.

And now we honor his life, which has ended at 53 — far too soon. He will be buried Monday at a military veterans cemetery in Killeen, home of Fort Hood, the largest active-duty armored post in the U.S. Armed Services.

And I believe her attacker was caught and is serving a life sentence.

[mountain grammy]

3. wonderful story, thanks for posting.

[Demit]

4. I'm sure she is a lovely person and all, but would we have heard her story if she hadn't been

related to a columnist and married recently to a television producer? Sorry to sound like a curmudgeon, but that 2nd graf reads like a list of bona fides. Which is how it seems all media is these days: stories and reports only of people who matter.

[NJCher]

5. being a true crime watcher

I would have to say yes, I think you would have. I saw the story they did on it and the crime was exceptionally horrific. The fact that she was shot three times and crawled 200 yards to the house is quite a feat.

As I said, I watch some of the crime shows on Dateline, 48 Hours, and 20/20 and I also watch them on Oprah and Discovery ID. Having seen as many of them as I have, I think it would have been covered regardless of the fact that she's a columnist's daughter.

Some of the worst crimes are unwatchable for me. This one was close to making me turn it off for the sheer horror of it all.

Having said that, however, what I originally wanted to say is that 53 is way too young. I wonder if he had medical checkups where they looked at his heart, blood pressure, etc. It doesn't sound like he did, and heart problems are not difficult to solve if caught early enough.

It's sad because we need more people like Frank James in this world.


Cher

[smirkymonkey]

6. What a horrific crime!

I am so glad that she has triumphed and that her attacker is serving a life sentence.

R.I.P to her wonderful father - how sad.