Donna Ongsiako miraculously survives a brutal home invasion, despite losing three-quarters of her blood. On the fateful night of July 7, 2013, Donna was violently stabbed multiple times during the invasion. Rushed to the hospital, she underwent a seven-hour surgery that ultimately saved her life.

Recalling the harrowing incident, Donna recounts how she had retired to bed for the night when she heard what she believed to be her cat scratching at the door. Going downstairs to let the cat in, she was met with a shocking sight—a stranger on her porch, armed with a knife and attempting to cut her window screen. As Donna tried to close the door, the intruder forcefully stabbed her finger through the opening, barged into her home, and mercilessly attacked her. Weakened, Donna collapsed to the ground, while the assailant demanded her car keys and a lighter.

In a desperate bid for survival, Donna disclosed that her keys and lighter were on the kitchen table. The intruder seized her belongings, including her entire purse, and after delivering a final stab to her chest, he departed through the door. Isolated on the outskirts of Colts Neck, N.J., with no immediate neighbors, Donna lived with her adult daughter, Kiersten, who happened to be out at a party that night.

Determined to reach her cellphone upstairs, Donna mustered the strength to climb the stairs, fully aware that her daughter could potentially find her lifeless body. Despite her grave injuries, she managed to dial 911, providing a detailed description of her attacker before briefly losing consciousness.

According to Donna’s account, the intruder had long, curly blonde hair, carried a backpack, and appeared to be around 17 years old. Shortly after her distress call, police received a report from a nearby fast-food restaurant, located five miles from Donna’s home. Employees reported encountering a young, blonde individual with a backpack, walking through their drive-thru and knocking on windows while brandishing a knife.

While authorities searched for the individual spotted at the Taco Bell, they discovered Donna’s stolen vehicle nearby. Abandoned behind a movie theater within the same shopping center, the vehicle’s lights were on, and the engine was still running. Detectives deemed the vehicle crucial to the investigation as it was covered in blood, potentially containing the suspect’s DNA.

Within two days, a customer who had seen the young man at the Taco Bell provided an important tip. The tipster directed investigators to Brennan Doyle, a 16-year-old residing just up the road from Donna’s house, stating that he resembled the sketch of the suspect circulated throughout the town. Doyle, who previously sported long skater-style hair, had recently cut it significantly shorter, resembling the updated sketch.

The investigation persisted throughout the summer of 2013, with Brennan Doyle remaining the primary suspect. In September, authorities obtained a warrant to collect Doyle’s DNA, which ultimately matched the unknown DNA found in Donna’s car. Shortly after, in early October, police received a call informing them that a knife had been discovered on the roof of a bowling alley within the same strip mall where Donna’s car had been abandoned. The knife was found by repairmen servicing an air conditioning unit.

Subsequently, investigators acquired a search warrant for Doyle’s residence, where they found a similar knife from the same set. In late October 2013, Brennan Doyle was apprehended, facing six charges, including attempted murder and carjacking. The keys he had taken from Donna’s purse were among the evidence against him.

According to investigative reports, Doyle claimed to have been under the influence of hallucinogenic “magic” mushrooms on the night of Donna’s attack. In August 2015, he agreed to a plea deal, pleading guilty to carjacking and attempted murder, resulting in the dismissal of the remaining charges.

In October, Doyle received a 15-year prison sentence. Despite Doyle’s incarceration, Donna continued to grapple with the aftermath of the traumatic experience. Unable to find support groups specifically catering to victims of random attacks, she decided to establish her own organization called “Survivors of Violent Crimes” in 2015. Her dedication and efforts were recognized by her local community, who honored her in July 2019.

Driven by her own experiences, Donna remains committed to her work. She plans to expand her support group by connecting victims with trauma therapists and offering self-defense classes. Furthermore, she endeavors to educate others by visiting prisons and engaging with inmates, as well as addressing police cadets, with the aim of fostering a better understanding of the victim’s perspective.