Lifetime is airing the TV movie Girl in the Box which is based on the true story of Colleen Stan. Stan was 20 years old when she was abducted by Cameron Hooker and his wife Janice Hooker in May 1977. For seven years, Cameron Hooker kept Stan in bondage as his sex slave. He kept her in a coffin-like box underneath his waterbed when he wasn’t torturing and raping her. Janice Hooker finally turned her husband in, and testified at his 1985 trial in exchange for full immunity.
[The DA who prosecuted Cameron Hooker wrote the book ‘Perfect Victim: The True Story of the Girl in the Box‘]
Cameron Hooker received the maximum sentence – 104 years in state prison – because of the “cruelty and viciousness of the crimes,” said the judge, who called Hooker “the most dangerous psychopath I have ever encountered.” Due to California’s Elderly Parole Program, Hooker qualified for a parole hearing — he was older than 60 (61) and had served more than 25 years (30). Right before his parole hearing in April 2015, Stan said: “I don’t want to face him, but I will.” She added,” “He’s a psychopath and psychopaths don’t change. He will always be a danger.” District Attorney Gregg Cohen, who attended the parole board hearing said: “Colleen did great,” and that her statement to the board “was very powerful and effective.” Hooker’s parole request was denied. Stan was interviewed after the hearing and told KXTV: “He [Hooker] didn’t show any remorse. Basically he’s wasted his life, 30 years in prison and hasn’t done anything to try to improve himself or change himself or figure out why he did this.” Hooker will be eligible for another parole hearing in 15 years, in 2030. Girl in the Box will air on Lifetime on Saturday, September 10 at 8pm. It will be followed by an interview with Stan.
