{"id":48365,"date":"2025-05-01T18:47:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/i-thought-hed-choke-me-or-rape-me-exclusive\/01\/05\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-05-01T18:47:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:47:56","slug":"i-thought-hed-choke-me-or-rape-me-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/i-thought-hed-choke-me-or-rape-me-exclusive\/01\/05\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I Thought He&#8217;d Choke Me or Rape Me&#8217; (Exclusive)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Natali Khomenko<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>shared a TikTok video claiming she discovered a man hiding under her bed in a hotel room in Tokyo<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>&#8220;I thought that he will choke me or rape me or kill me in those seconds. I was like, \u2018that\u2019s it. That\u2019s it,&#8221; Khomenko explained.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Khomenko says she is speaking out\u00a0to help prevent further incidents from happening to other female solo travelers<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Natali Khomenko always wanted to travel to Japan. So, to celebrate her 32nd birthday, she and her husband made a plan to travel there in the spring. However, at the last minute when her husband couldn\u2019t join her because of work, she decided to go alone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt was a present to me to go to Japan,\u201d she tells PEOPLE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Ukrainian creative producer flew from her home in Thailand and arrived in Tokyo on March 29, checking into her hotel around 10 p.m. The next morning, she left her hotel around 10 a.m. to take in Tokyo\u2019s temples, Ueno Park, food markets and cafes. She arrived back at her hotel around 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Natalia Khomenko<\/p>\n<p> Natali Khomenko<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI was so tired,\u201d she says by the time she returned to her hotel. \u201cI just laid down on my bed with my phone. I wanted to book a train from Tokyo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Then she noticed a \u201cweird smell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt was rotten. It was like a dead animal but a sweet odor,\u201d she says. \u201cI realized the smell was coming from under the bed.\u00a0 And without any bad thoughts I just leaned forward to check under the bed. I leaned forward and I just saw him. I saw the eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Natalisi Taksisi\/TikTok; Natalisi Taksisi\/Instagram Natali Khomenko; hotel room\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/4hBWqse0lrlrspQkDpPylg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/9d07febed6494e9cf7730981b988e4e3\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.dotdashmeredith.com\/people-true-crime\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u00a0PEOPLE';elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">\u00a0PEOPLE&#8217;<\/a><em><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.dotdashmeredith.com\/people-true-crime\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:s free True Crime newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">s free True Crime newsletter<\/a>\u00a0for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Khomenko says the man, who appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, was lying on his belly. \u201cHis arms were bent a little bit. One of his legs was a little bit bent. He was very quiet. It was only the smell that helped me to spot him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She immediately screamed and watched in horror as the intruder dressed in all black crawled out from under the bed, stood up and stared at her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cHe was quietly staring at me for three seconds while I was screaming,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd then he started to scream. I thought that he will choke me or rape me or kill me in those seconds. I was like, \u2018that\u2019s it. That\u2019s it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Khomenko says she was absolutely paralyzed with fear. \u201cI could not move,\u201d she says. \u201cI was just screaming and standing very stiff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Seconds later, the intruder turned around and dashed out the hotel room door. She attempted to call the front desk. \u201cI started to dial the reception, but I could not because I was in panic mode, and I couldn\u2019t understand which number I should dial.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Getty Woman walking around Shijuku district illuminated at dusk with Cocoon tower building in the backdrop, Tokyo, Japan\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/AJXTsiGyIOcG4Xr.eEt0qQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/376dc09caec272a96d6600c2cf8e6e65\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<p> Woman walking around Shijuku district illuminated at dusk with Cocoon tower building in the backdrop, Tokyo, Japan<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Travelers in the next room heard her screams and called hotel staff, who then called police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Khomenko says after a search of the room they found the intruder\u2019s power bank and a USB cable under the bed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt\u2019s just my thought that he definitely wanted to spend the night,\u201d she says. \u201cMaybe he wanted to record me and that\u2019s why he took the power bank. Because the camera is taking a lot of batteries from the phone and that\u2019s why he needed to recharge it. He was prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Khomenko says she asked the hotel staff how the man could have gained access to her room. \u201cHow did it happen that this person entered my room? And she didn\u2019t have an answer for me. She was like, \u2018I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After she spoke to the police, Khomenko says she checked her luggage to see if anything was missing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cHe didn\u2019t take anything,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She immediately checked out of the hotel and her husband booked her into another one. However, the rest of her trip was filled with anxiety. \u201cI didn\u2019t sleep at all in the new hotels,\u201d she says. \u201cI was in shock. I could not sleep. I was talking to my relatives till 4 a.m.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The hotel would later tell her that it didn&#8217;t have cameras, making it difficult for police to identify the intruder. The hotel declined her request for $1,600 to recoup her expenses after the incident, she said, but did reimburse her for the three nights she planned to stay there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Khomenko reached out to the Ukrainian embassy and on April 25 spoke out about the incident on TikTok in a post that has since gone viral.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt was very scary,\u201d she recalls. \u201cIt was an absolute violation. All my experiences, my birthday, everything was ruined.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Part of the reason she has spoken out, she says, is to prevent this from happening to other female solo travelers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI wanted to bring awareness,&#8221; she noted. &#8220;A lot of solo travelers wrote to me that they\u2019re grateful that I shared with this this story because they could not imagine that it could happen, especially in Japan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/woman-recounts-weird-smell-man-under-bed-hotel-japan-11726683\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/woman-recounts-terror-weird-smell-211124919.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Natali Khomenko&nbsp;shared a TikTok video claiming she discovered a man hiding under her bed in a hotel room in Tokyo &ldquo;I thought<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/i-thought-hed-choke-me-or-rape-me-exclusive\/01\/05\/2025\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/202c73e6f50a73e1c51582714307d8c8","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48365"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48365\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}