Man Sentenced In Burlington Co. Sex Assault; Survivor Meets Hero

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ — A woman who was rescued from an attempted sexual assault by a Good Samaritan in 2019 met her rescuer on Thursday, a few minutes after the Philadelphia man who attacked her was sentenced to 18 years in state prison.

The woman and her husband expressed their gratitude to John Bishop, who saved her from the attempted assault by 54-year-old Donald Cramer Jr., according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina.

“It was a privilege to see this emotional meeting between this brave survivor and the gentleman who put himself in harm’s way to rescue her from this awful attack,” Coffina said. “By intervening to help a stranger without regard for his own safety, Mr. Bishop reflects, as Abraham Lincoln once said, the ‘better angels of our nature.’ And I cannot say enough about our survivor, who bravely fought her attacker during the crime, and was determined to see that justice was done in this case, and to make certain that this defendant could not harm anyone else.”

Cramer previously pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault. He must serve 15 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Cramer grabbed the woman as she was walking along Route 73 near the I-295 ramp in Mount Laurel on June 6, 2019, and dragged her to a wooded area, according to Coffina.

At the same time, Bishop was driving by and witnessed the abduction, authorities said. The Burlington County resident immediately stopped his car, got out and went to help the woman.

He rescued the victim from Cramer, and was able to subdue him until Mount Laurel Township police arrived. Police then arrested Cramer, according to authorities. The victim was treated and released from an area hospital. Read more here: Good Samaritan Saves Woman From Sexual Assault On I-295: Police

Cramer has been held in Burlington County Jail since his arrest, authorities said. He was indicted in 2019. Read more here: Man Indicted In Sexual Assault Of Woman Near I-295: Prosecutor