Who was behind Donna Palomba’s sexual assault? ‘Dateline NBC’s new episode reveals traumatic 11 years journey to justice
WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT: John Regan was identified as the man behind the traumatic rape of Donna Palomba in 1993. After years of fighting for justice, Donna persevered until her assailant was finally arrested by the police.
The process of seeking justice lasted almost 11 years, reflecting Donna's determination to hold her attacker accountable for the heinous crime committed against her.
NBC's 'Dateline' episode titled 'Evil Paid a Visit' which airs Sunday, February 11 at 9 pm ET, delves into the case of Palomba, who was brutally raped at her residence, in the absence of her husband John Palomba. What makes the case evil is the identification of the convict Regan as John Palomba's friend.
The official synopsis of the episode states, "A Connecticut woman speaks out about her years-long journey for justice after being raped in her own home and the fight to keep her assailant from walking free."
The episode is led by reporter Andrea Canning and features Donna Palomba and John Palomba, former Waterbury Detective Neil O’Leary, family members, and others.
What happened to Donna Palomba?
Palomba experienced a traumatic event on September 11, 1993, when a masked intruder entered her home while her husband was away for the first time in their 12-year marriage.
The intruder physically and sexually assaulted her, but inexplicably let her live. Despite threats, Palomba ran to her neighbor's house and bravely called the police. The law enforcement immediately took action, collecting DNA evidence through a rape kit at the hospital.
In the subsequent weeks, instead of focusing on finding the assailant, the police subjected Palomba to intense interrogation, questioning the veracity of her account. Identified as Jane Doe, she took legal action against the Waterbury PD for negligence in 2001, winning the lawsuit.
However, in 2004, another similar attack occurred against a 21-year-old, leading to the apprehension of the suspect, John Regan. Shockingly, Regan was revealed to be a longtime friend of Palomba's husband.
In 2004, Waterbury Police Chief Neil O'Leary's intuition played a crucial role, leading to the arrest of John Regan, a family friend, as the perpetrator of Palomba's assault. The subsequent DNA analysis confirmed a perfect match between Regan's DNA and that of Palomba's attacker.
How did Donna Palomba survive the assault?
In September 1993, Palomba experienced a traumatic attack at her home. Her husband was away for a friend's wedding in Colorado, leaving her with their 5 and 7-year-old children.
During the night, an intruder broke in, later identified as John Regan, entered her bedroom where her children were asleep. The assailant quickly overpowered her, covering her head with a pillowcase, blindfolding her, and restraining her hands with pantyhose.
The intruder proceeded to sexually assault her and issued threats, warning her of harm if she contacted the police. Despite the assailant disguising his voice, Palomba recounted the terrifying incident to NBC, emphasizing the attacker's swift and forceful actions.
"I was fortunate enough that I could speak and I said 'I will never tell a soul. Please don’t hurt me'. So I begged for my life," Palomba noted. "He said multiple times—he threatened that if I told the police, that he would kill me," Palomba added noting that Regan soon left the room as he shut the door behind her.
"Oh my gosh, I was so incredibly grateful. When you come that close to death and you’re able to survive, I was just so incredibly grateful," she added.
How did John Regan break inside Donna Palomba’s house?
On the evening of Friday, September 10th, 1993, Donna had a busy day, going to work and visiting her partner's new baby at the hospital. Little did she know that she would end up being admitted to the same hospital later that night. After the hospital visit, Donna took her young son and daughter to a concert and for pizza.
By the time they returned home, all three were exhausted. Donna put the kids to sleep, and by 10.00 pm, she went to bed herself, falling into a deep sleep while lying on her stomach.
However, her rest was abruptly disrupted when, in an instant, an intruder wearing a mask appeared and attacked her. "I remember hearing some footsteps. I was still not quite awake but thinking that doesn’t sound like little children’s bare feet," she told NBC.
"There was a shadowy figure in my bedroom. No as soon as I was coming out of sleep, I realized that something was terribly wrong. He cut my clothing and he raped me," she added. After Donna pleaded for her life and handed over the cash, the intruder eventually left.
After how many years was John Regan convicted?
Eleven years later, the police finally tracked down Donna's attacker, revealing his identity to be John Regan. Donna provided a statement to the police, acknowledging that she couldn't identify her attacker due to the mask and gloves he wore.
She recalled the smell of grease, believed he was trying to disguise his voice, and noted his strength. However, DNA samples proved crucial in connecting John to the crime.
When he was arrested and charged with illegal restraint, he voluntarily gave a DNA sample, which perfectly matched the evidence from Donna’s case. John Regan was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2006.
He pleaded not guilty, claiming consensual intercourse with Donna in 1993. However, after posting bail, he faced restraining orders. A year later, John was arrested again in Saratoga Springs, New York, for ambushing and attacking a high school senior.
What is ‘Jane Doe No More’ Inc by Donna Palomba?
Jane Doe No More, founded by rape survivor Donna Palomba, is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering survivors of sexual crimes.
The organization aims to help survivors find their voice, advance their healing, and educate others about the impact of sexual crimes. Donna Palomba emphasizes the growth of their collective voice, starting from a whisper when she could barely speak to a powerful roar today.
Jane Doe No More not only focuses on supporting survivors but also offers training programs for women and girls. These programs cover personal prevention strategies, confidence-building skills, awareness tips, as well as physical self-defense techniques like kicks, strikes, and blows.
The organization is committed to fostering strength, resilience, and awareness in the fight against sexual crimes.
'Dateline NBC' Season 32 airs new episodes every Friday at 8 pm ET on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock the following day.