Live To Tell: River's Edge

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Extra: Danielle's story

"Live To Tell," a 48 Hours Mystery special, limited-run series. (CBS)

Dan Zapp: Danielle and I stayed in touch after the incident. We tried to talk occasionally, but our relationship wasn't anything like it was before. It was like every time that I talked to her, I had to bring up the past all over again. I had to think about all the things that I thought I had done wrong, all the ways that I couldn't save her and I couldn't get us both out of that situation. And most of the time I couldn't stand it. And over a period of time I started to pull further and further away.

Danielle Keener: Transitioning back to being in college was really hard for me. I really struggled with being around men that were strangers to me.

Elizabeth Martin: At first she was a little withdrawn. You know, she was very scared. She didn't want to walk alone at night. She did have a lot of nightmares, and it was upsetting for all of us because we really wanted to help her. And we really - we didn't want her to be scared or sad. But with the circumstances, there really wasn't any other way. That's how she was.

Danielle: I knew though, in the back of my mind, that there was still a lot that I had to do personally in order to feel as though I could you know, live again.

Elizabeth Martin: Four months after Babner was convicted, we had Take Back the Night on the Susquehanna University campus. And what Take Back the Night is, is a rally against rape. Everybody can attend, and they can get up and speak about their experience with rape or violence.

Danielle: And I saw all these brave women walk up to the microphone and just share, you know, "I'm a rape survivor," and share parts of their story. It was just so inspiring and so empowering that they had a voice that they were able to share.

Elizabeth Martin: There was about 10 minutes of silence. Nobody was getting up to speak, and Dani got up to speak. And we knew she was gonna tell the whole story. And we knew that she was gonna share this with everybody, and that was probably the most emotional moment for all of us because you could kind of see the bravery in Dani, and the growth that she was making, and how strong she was. She just got up there and she told the whole story. And it just really moved everyone, and it really moved all of us. And we were so proud of her. We were really, really proud of her.

Danielle: I just, I felt so much power and so much strength. And part of what I felt he had taken from me, I was able to pull back and say, "You know what, he may have taken a few things, but there is so much that he didn't take, that he couldn't touch. And that is what makes me who I am."

Dan: I think it took me a lot longer than it should have to get to a more comfortable place in dealing with the incident and talking about it and looking at it from a healthy perspective. I knew that I should be getting therapy, you know? I should be dealing with it. I just really didn't want to. I wanted to try to ignore it and just hope that eventually it went away. In the last eight years, I feel like I've grown up a whole lot.

Regarding the incident, my perspective has almost entirely changed. Danielle and I, we've really reconnected over the past couple of years. We've really started our relationship over from where it kind of ended. We're really close now, and I consider her a great friend and someone who I hope to know for the rest of my life.

Danielle: Dan met an amazing woman at college who has been such a great companion for him. She has definitely helped him to get to that next level in his own survival and healing. They got married in 2007.

Dan: I feel like everything's kind of going in the direction I always wanted it to go. And I'm just really happy for everything that I have right now.

Elizabeth Martin: In spring of junior year, I introduced Kevin MacGuire to Dani. And they connected instantly and dated, fell in love, and he proposed to her just a couple years later. The police chief and the men who rescued Dan and Dani, including the duck hunter, were all guests at the wedding, as well. Dani was so beautiful at her wedding. She was glowing.

Brent Keener: Dani looks absolutely wonderful. She is just doing great, and looking great. And [I'm] extremely proud of her.

Danielle: I'm so happy that I have made it to where I am today. The gratefulness that I have for my beautiful baby girl and my husband that I have I don't have to think about what happened to me every day. It doesn't define me anymore. I have learned how to make it a part of who I am. It has made me a better person.

Dan: Danielle and I are forever intertwined. That's like a connection that no one else can ever take away from us. She's always going to be a part of my life.

Danielle: It's as though our souls are connected. He'll be a part of my life forever.

Dan Zapp is studying for a Ph.D in psychology. Danielle Keener MacGuire is a drug and alcohol counselor. Every year they call each other on the anniversary of the shootings.

Did you look death in the eye and live to tell?
Share your survival story

Created by Judy Tygard
Produced by Katherine Davis, Michael McHugh, Alan Miller and Kevin Hayes

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by downtown6 June 3, 2012 4:14 AM EDT: I just finished watching this tearful story online and can't express how happy I am that these young people survived, and put the sicko behind bars. Dani and Dani are beautiful people.; Reply to this comment


by Wildwood1966 February 26, 2010 8:47 AM EST: what an awesome brave couple - they will forever be connected - the sick part of this is if he would have killed them his sentene would have been so much lighter - I am so glad this evil man is where he belongs - ashame we have to spend money to feed him (Girlfriend? son? how could htey not know??); Reply to this comment


by jo17370 November 11, 2009 12:25 AM EST: I live 1 miles from Goldsboro. I remember that day so well. There were people at my house loading their truck with firewood and we looked up and there was a helicopter hovering over us. Little did we relize at the time what they were doing until later that day when I heard they were looking for that guy. Was an weird feeling!; Reply to this comment


by emeyarjey April 25, 2009 8:59 AM EDT: my cousin once told me to log on to this site to read the story on a convict who looked like one of our countrymen. from then on, i got hooked on reading the 48-hour mystery. every time i read stories in this section, i thank God for the air that im still breathing. this story has touched me the most, in my 3 months of reading articles on this site. the good Lord really doesn't put people and experiences in our lives which would not help in making us better people. to dan and dani, i am so happy that the Lord gave u a second chance to live, to inspire others with your will to live, to encourage those who are oppressed and to further prove the presence of our dear Lord in our lives. i pray that u both succeed in the different endeavors that u have chosen..... may God continue to shower his blessings upon u; Reply to this comment


by Nic378 February 26, 2009 1:27 PM EST: I am a big fan of 48 hours- any show that they do. I live 35 minuets away from when this incident happened and never knew about it. Not that I could have done anything but I wish I would have known at the time. I have never seen the A&E episode of I Survived and was happy that 48 hours did this special. I wish Dan and Dani the best of luck and thank you for sharing your story of courage and hope.; Reply to this comment


by Cas2dy February 25, 2009 9:17 AM EST: QUOTE from article:
Dan Zapp is studying for a Ph.D in psychology. Danielle Keener MacGuire is a drug and alcohol counselor. Every year they call each other on the anniversary of the shootings.

These are two amazing people. The fact hat they are going into careers that are of a nature to help people like the one who brutalized them is testimony to the fact that they are amzing people. god bless them and i wish them success in all they do.; Reply to this comment


by Joy60 February 25, 2009 9:05 AM EST: I'm very proud of these young people. They not only lived, but they took back their lives. I was also happy to see the justice system work so well this time. I'm tired of seeing people commit murder and get 10-15 years. This was an encouraging story.; Reply to this comment


by wamae-2009 February 25, 2009 3:07 AM EST: Sad incident that ends well. Here in Kenya there are such victims.; Reply to this comment


by galsmiley February 23, 2009 1:20 PM EST: My heart goes out to both Dan and Dani. It's great that you both had the strength to survive and help bring that monster to justice. You both are heroes. It' also very nice that you (and your families) have stayed close. It's better to find strength from something like this than let that horrible monster get the better of you. God bless you both!; Reply to this comment


by rsmik February 22, 2009 3:01 PM EST: maria391 and opinion12 both summed up the problem with this series. Now can we have the Mysteries back?; Reply to this comment