How One Texas Mom Stopped a Serial Killer

In December 1981, Margy Palm faced an unimaginable challenge when abducted by serial killer Stephen Morin. Through an unexpected blend of courage and compassion, Palm not only survived, but influenced a profound change in her captor.

The Abduction

Margy Palm’s ordeal began in a suburban parking lot when she was forced into her own vehicle at gunpoint by Stephen Morin. Recognized for his brutal crimes and fueled by desperation to evade capture, Morin’s lethal intentions were clear. He was suspected of murdering, torturing, and in some instances raping, more than 30 women in at least nine states. As reported by Vanity Fair, Morin screamed at Palm in the car and threatened to kill her if she didn’t behave.

However, Palm chose an unexpected response: she prayed for him aloud, a decision that remarkably altered the course of events.

“Oh my God,” he said, “I’m in the car with a religious freak,” as reported by Vanity Fair.

A Shift Through Faith

As hours turned into a psychological standoff in the confinement of her car, Palm’s consistent expressions of faith began to penetrate Morin’s hardened exterior. This eventually culminated in what Palm described as an in-car exorcism, leading Morin to a moment of self-reflection and an expressed desire to change his violent ways.

The Road to Redemption?

The climax of this harrowing experience unfolded at a bus station, where Morin, swayed by Palm’s influence and a newfound wish for peace, decided to turn himself in. He parted ways with Palm by giving her a cross, seemingly showing a desire for a new beginning.

Margy Palm was tremendously lucky to have an outcome that avoided violence. In an unexpected turn of events, her ability to see past Morin’s monstrous deeds to the troubled human within, and her efforts in guiding him towards redemption highlight a rare instance of moral courage driven by strong faith.

Although Morin’s other victims were not as fortunate, Palm escaped with her life, and her faith, intact.

Reference: True Crime, True Faith: The Serial Killer and the Texas Mom Who Stopped Him