A woman who was abducted at knifepoint by her own boyfriend has shared details of her horrific experience, telling how she came to terms with the fact that she would die at the hands of her abuser.
In October 2022, Alexis Ruhlen, 21, was forced into her car by Pawel Sliwinski, 24, and driven to a local shopping mall, where he threatened to cut her up and sew her back together.
After Pawel got out, the New Jersey student quickly locked the doors, rushed to local police and reported her abuser.
Pawel was sentenced to seven years in prison in April 2024 after pleading guilty to kidnapping Alexis.
Now, almost two years after the terrible event, the nursing student thinks back to the abuse that happened to her, but also to the quick action that saved her life.
In October 2022, Alexis Ruhlen, 21, was forced into her car by Pawel Sliwinski, 24, and driven to a local shopping mall, where he threatened to cut her up and sew her back together.
“I accepted that I was going to die that day,” the student recalled. “Saving myself was my hardest achievement, but it’s also one of which I’m most proud.”
On the outside, Alexis Ruhlen and Pawel Sliwinski seemed like the perfect couple. They had a whirlwind romance after first meeting on Tinder in December 2020.
They officially started dating in January 2021 and it wasn’t long before Pawel showed his cruel side, culminating in an outburst and threatening her life.
“I thought he did it because he loved me,” Alexis confessed.
“But then he would make big gestures, like taking me out on the weekends, to make up for the fact that I was sad,” the New Jersey native explained.
However, just weeks after the couple started dating, Pawel started showing worrying signs: she became extremely possessive, trying to control what she should wear and demanding to know where she was at all times of the day.
Eventually he started becoming physically violent.
“He even said he would never hurt me again, but of course that didn’t last long,” Alexis said.
“I lost count of the number of times he hit me and yelled at me about what I was wearing or where I was going,” she added.
Alexis, from New Jersey, first met Pawel in December 2020 when the two first met on Tinder – but he later became abusive
The pair quickly entered into a stormy relationship and became ‘inseparable’, with Alexis finally thinking she had gotten her fairytale ending
Four months into their relationship, the 24-year-old became increasingly aggressive and began becoming physically violent, before erupting in October 2022 when Alexis tried to break up with him.
Alexis, who has since opened up to her family about the abuse she endured, noted that she has been through a long healing journey to get where she is today
The final straw came in October 2022, when Pawel insisted she call him via FaceTime, but “went ballistic” when she encountered a male stranger while walking across her university campus.
“That’s when I told him I was done for forever,” she said.
Pawel was furious about the breakup and sent the student no less than 43 emails threatening her and her loved ones with harm, then went to her campus to take revenge.
The jealous ex hid in the trunk of her car with a knife, jumped out and punched Alexis in the face, then forced her to drive 45 minutes to a shopping mall.
After Alexis quickly fled to the police, Pawel was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, burglary, assault with a weapon, stalking and making terrorist threats.
In April, Pawel appeared in Bergen County Court and was sentenced to seven years in prison
However, they were later dropped as part of a deal after they pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping.
After reflecting on the ordeal, Alexis says she doesn’t see herself as a victim, but as a survivor.
“It’s impressive to see how the person who made my life hell for a year and a half is being punished,” she said.
“I refuse to live my life as a victim because of him.”
The aspiring nurse said she will continue to endure the tough battles in life and will continue to advocate for those in a similar situation to hers. She indicated that she has been on a long road of healing to get where she is today.
“It took me a long time to get better, but I’m doing better now,” the brave woman admitted.
“I would have liked to have held him longer, but it would have been difficult to appear before the judge.”
She said her experience had made her stronger and more resilient, despite the “unimaginable” pain she had endured.
“My family is amazing and I have the sweetest boyfriend,” she enthused.
“I’m free, I can breathe and I’m at peace. I live my life on my own terms.”
Pawel appeared in Bergen County Court and was sentenced to seven years in prison in April 2024.
