Karen Sparks Epley

Karen Sparks Epley (born 1955) is an American accountant and advocator. She broke her silence in 2020 to share her story in the Amazon Prime docuseries Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.

Early life and education In 1974, Sparks was an 18-year-old student at the University of Washington in Seattle. She was a dancer and lived in a basement apartment in the city's University District.

1974 attack On the night of January 4, 1974, Ted Bundy entered Sparks' apartment while she was asleep. Bundy used a metal rod—reportedly a piece of her own bedframe—to bludgeon her, causing a massive skull fracture. He then used the same rod to sexually assault her, causing severe internal injuries and a ruptured bladder. She remained in a coma for 10 days. She believes she was spared from death because her roommate, Chunk, was heard talking in his sleep, which may have spooked Bundy into fleeing.

Personal life She is married and has children. She kept her history as a survivor secret from her children for most of their lives, stating, "I never directly talked to my own children about it because, you know, I am mom".

Advocacy She is active in her mission to ensure victims are remembered for their lives rather than just their trauma. She frequently participates in documentaries and continues to advocate for survivor narratives.

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