Seven Years In A Coffin: Chilling Ordeal Of Woman Held Captive In Box Under Bed

#1

Colleen Stan became known as ‘The Girl in the Box' after she was kidnapped and held as a sex slave from 1977 to 1984. Colleen Stan was just 20 when she was kidnapped.

#2

She was taken on 19 May 1977 when she was just 20. Colleen was hitchhiking to a friend's birthday party in Oregon, when Cameron and Janice Hooker stopped for her.

They had a baby and Colleen thought she would be safe.

That couldn't have been further from the truth though, as half an hour later Cameron took the car down a lane and then threatened to kill Colleen as he held a knife to her throat.

#3 This is the box which was placed on Colleen's head when she was taken.

He stuffed a gag in her mouth, tied her up and placed a wooden box over her head.

"I thought I was going to die," she told People.

Colleen was taken to the home where Cameron and Janice lived in Red Bluff, California.

They held her captive in a box made of wood which was hidden under their bed.

#4

A reconstruction of how Colleen was brutalized in captivity.

#5 This is the Coffin-like box in which Colleen was held for up to 23-hours a day under Hooker and his wife's bed.

The terrified woman spent 23 hours a day in the crate and only came out when she was going to be tortured, raped or hit.

At first Colleen was chained as she sat up in the box. As time wore on she was transferred to another one which looked like a coffin.

#6

Another reconstruction of how Colleen was held captive in a coffin-like box for 23 hours a day.

#7

Cameron warned her he was part of a group called The Company, who would think nothing of tracking her down and murdering her if she ever tried to escape.

She was forced to sign a contract which stated she was The Company's slave.

#8

In August 1984 Colleen managed to escape after Janice helped her. Janice ended up testifying against her husband after she was given immunity, with Cameron jailed for 104 years.

During court proceedings, it was suggested Colleen may have suffered from Stockholm Syndrome, which is when people begin to identify with their captor because of the intense stress they've been through.

It is thought Colleen started to feel empathy with Hooker when he showed her the smallest amount of affection.

#9

This is the contract Colleen was made to sign.

#10

Colleen revealed thinking about her happy memories is what got her through the traumatic time as she learned not to allow her mind to be imprisoned too.

Colleen's story has been made into a film called Girl in the Box.

#11

She is now happy with her life and has a family.