CBS 48 Hours “A Stabbing in Colts Neck” Airs May 20 2023
In the quiet town of Colts Neck, New Jersey, Donna Ongsiako was enjoying a peaceful night at home when a harrowing incident changed her life forever. After hearing a noise near her front door, Ongsiako opened it, mistakenly believing she needed to let her cat inside. Instead, she was confronted by a young man brandishing a knife, who forced his way in and began to stab her repeatedly.
In an emotional interview with 48 Hours contributor Jim Axelrod, Ongsiako recounts her courageous story of survival and shares her efforts to support other victims of random violence. The episode, titled “A Stabbing in Colts Neck,” is set to air on Saturday, May 20, at 10:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available for streaming on Paramount+.
Despite suffering severe blood loss, Ongsiako managed to call 911 after her attacker demanded her car keys, a lighter, and stabbed her one last time before fleeing the scene. “I lost in total, close to three-quarters of the blood in my body,” Ongsiako tells Axelrod. “There’s no earthly reason why I’m alive. None.”
A valuable tip led investigators to the perpetrator, a 16-year-old local teen named Brennan Doyle, who had no prior criminal record. The hour-long episode includes interviews with Ongsiako’s daughter Kiersten, Monmouth County detective Andrea Tozzi, former Monmouth County assistant prosecutor Laurie Gerhardt, and others who played a role in bringing justice to the victim.
Produced by Susan Mallie and Kat Teurfs, with editing by Marcus Balsam, Michelle Harris, and Jud Johnston, “A Stabbing in Colts Neck” aims to shed light on Ongsiako’s remarkable journey of recovery and her dedication to helping others affected by senseless acts of violence. The senior producer for the episode is Lourdes Aguiar, with Nancy Kramer as executive editor and Judy Tygard as executive producer.
