Woman abducted by serial killer knew she had to ‘charm him or die’

A woman faced with a terrible situation had to use quick thinking to survive a haunting encounter with a serial killer.

Barbara Mabee Abel has opened up about one of the most terrifying moments in her life, when she was kidnapped and taken prisoner by a serial killer late known as the Casanova Killer.

Abel has chosen to revisit the shocking story in an upcoming People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer episode that is set to air on Sunday, May 19.

In 1974, Abel was a 31-year-old single mother in West Palm Beach, Florida and lived with her twin sister, who had cerebral palsy, and her 6-year-old son.

After picking up her son and heading home, Abel told her son Dale to go find his aunty. Going into the kitchen to get a glass of water a voice told her not to turn around or she would be shot.

Instinctively, Abel turned around and was met with a man, later identified as Paul John Knowles, holding a sawed off shotgun.

Her son ran in to say his aunty was bleeding. She was then taken into the bedroom where her sister was gagged and bound.

Knowles laughed as he confessed that he had tried to rape her. He said he was now leaving and would be taking her son, Dale.

Abel refused and said to take her instead, which the killer did.

The brave woman explained that she was well aware of her life being in danger and had to make the decision to either charm him or die.

She lavished Knowles with compliments in hopes of building his confidence and getting him to lower his guard.

He told her they were driving to Georgia and she noticed he was fiddling with the radio in hopes of hearing his kidnapping had made the news.

When the pair stopped at a motel, Abel explained she was raped that night and still had to figure out a way to get away safely, as the killer always had his gun on his person.

She added that when the kidnapping came up on TV, Knowles became excited, wanting notoriety. Realizing this, Abel said she could help get his story out there, as she was a radio copywriter and could help him write a book.

He eventually left the room to make a phone call and tied Abel up, putting a gag in her mouth as well. When he got back at around 1am, he realized he left the key in the room and was now locked out.

She recalled that he said he knew she couldn’t talk but that he loved her. After managing to get the gag out of her mouth and loosen the restraints she called the motel manager and told them what had happened.

After leaving Abel, Knowles continued driving towards Georgia and was eventually apprehended by police when he successfully killed and kidnapped two other people, including a state trooper.

Knowles was killed by police only weeks later when he attempted to escape when authorities had asked him to show him where he ditched a state trooper’s gun.