GWM to host survivor of serial killer Ted Bundy at Crime and Wine event

Published 1:05 pm Wednesday, January 3, 2024

On Jan. 15, 1978, Ted Bundy broke into the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University around 3 a.m. Bundy, who escaped from a Colorado jail cell just two weeks before, went on a violent rampage. He fatally attacked two women, bludgeoning them with firewood and strangling them with stockings, according to police reports.

On the evenings of Jan. 12 and 13, the 46th anniversary of the Bundy murders, Georgia Writers Museum will partner with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute (CCIRI) to bring back the extremely popular Crime & Wine experience at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Hundreds of visitors have enjoyed this special “whodunit,” complete with compelling real props, witnesses, investigators and great snacks.

Host for the evening will be Sheryl McCollum, founder and director of CCIRI and author of “Cold Case: Pathways to Justice.” She is an Emmy-Award-winning Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) from CBS46’s CSI Atlanta, writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department.

At these two special evening events will be Kathy Kleiner. Headlights saved Kleiner and her roommate from the notorious serial killer in 1978. Bundy murdered at least 30 women between 1974 and 1978, and Kathy Kleiner was just seconds from becoming a murder victim.

Hear details of the attack at the Chi Omega House, her health battles, and other extraordinary life-changing events! Meet Kathy and take pictures with this hero who testified against Ted Bundy, sending him to the electric chair. Kathy’s amazing life of survival is outlined in her book, “A Light in the Dark: Surviving More than Ted Bundy,” which will be for sale at the museum.

The event will be held at the Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton. Tickets are $45 per person ($40 each for two or more tickets). Half of the proceeds go to CCIRI to help fund cold case investigations. Gourmet snacks will be served. Kathy will be signing copies of her book following her presentation. Visit www.georgiawritersmuseum.org to register for one of the events and to pre-order your copy of Kathy’s book.