Terry Jo Duperrault: The 11-Year-Old Who Survived Alone at Sea

Quick Summary

A Family’s Dream Turns into Horror

In November 1961, Dr. Arthur Duperrault, his wife, Jean, and their three children — Brian, Terry Jo, and Renee — chartered a sailboat called the Bluebelle for a family voyage through the Bahamas. Also on board were Julian Harvey, a former Air Force pilot hired to captain the yacht, and his wife, Mary Dene Harvey.

It was meant to be a peaceful escape from their home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But just days into the trip, what began as a dream vacation turned into a horrifying crime scene.

The Night Everything Changed

On the night of November 12, Terry Jo awoke to the sound of her brother’s scream. She crept upstairs from her tiny cabin and found her mother and brother lifeless. Harvey was the only adult on board, and when he saw her, he said nothing. Terrified, Terry Jo returned below deck. The boat was taking on water.

Instead of saving her, Harvey scuttled the Bluebelle and abandoned ship in a dinghy. Terry Jo managed to escape on a small cork float, without food, water, or protection from the sun.

Four Days Alone at Sea

Terry Jo drifted alone for nearly 82 hours, exposed to blazing heat by day and cold winds at night. She had no life jacket, no sail, and no supplies. Sharks circled her raft. Her lips cracked, her eyes swelled shut, and hallucinations set in.

But she never gave up.

On the fourth day, a Greek freighter spotted her near death. The crew pulled her aboard, wrapped her in blankets, and radioed for help.

Why Did Julian Harvey Kill the Duperraults?

Harvey was later discovered to have murdered the family to collect insurance money, likely planning only to kill his wife and stage an accident. When the Duperraults witnessed the crime, he killed them too. After learning that Terry Jo had survived, he checked into a motel and died by suicide.

What Happened to Terry Jo After?

Terry Jo was returned to Wisconsin to live with relatives. She changed her name to Tere Duperrault Fassbender and stayed out of the public eye for decades.

In 2010, Terry Jo finally shared her full story in the memoir Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean, co-authored with psychologist Richard D. Logan — a detailed account of the trauma, the survival, and the years that followed.

Questions About Terry Jo Duperrault

How old was Terry Jo when the attack happened?
Terry Jo was 11 years old when the attack happened.

How long was she adrift at sea?
She spent nearly four days (82 hours) drifting alone on a float with no food or water.

Why did Julian Harvey kill the Duperrault family?
He intended to kill his wife for insurance fraud, but murdered the family when they became witnesses.

What did Terry Jo survive on?
Nothing — she had no food or water. She survived through endurance and sheer willpower.

Is Terry Jo Duperrault still alive?
Yes. As of the most recent updates, she lives under her married name, Tere Fassbender, and has spoken publicly about her survival.

Genie Wiley – The Feral Child

While Terry Jo Duperrault’s ordeal unfolded in the vastness of the open sea, another young girl, Genie Wiley, endured a different kind of isolation, confined within the walls of her own home.

Discovered in 1970 in Los Angeles, Genie had been subjected to extreme neglect and social deprivation for over a decade.

Her case became a pivotal study in understanding human development, language acquisition, and the resilience of the human spirit. Explore the haunting story of Genie Wiley – The Feral Child.