NEED TO KNOW
\nJames Ransone saved a woman from sexual assault in 2006; now, the woman is breaking her silence in the wake of his death\u201cI am so grateful that this man existed and don\u2019t know if the trajectory of my life would be the same if he hadn\u2019t,\u201d Molly Watts wrote in an Instagram post shared on Tuesday, Dec. 23The late actor died by suicide on Friday, Dec. 19, at the age of 46<\/p>\n
James Ransone<\/a> is being remembered as a hero following his death.\n<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Dec. 23, a woman named Molly Watts shared a post via Instagram<\/a>, revealing that the late actor saved her from her sexual assault outside his New York apartment in 2006.\n<\/p>\n “I found out yesterday that @jamesransone<\/a> died,” she began in her caption alongside a photo of The Wire actor. “I\u2019m usually private but I want to publicly say I am so grateful that this man existed and don\u2019t know if the trajectory of my life would be the same if he hadn\u2019t.”\n<\/p>\n Watts added that she and Ransone were neighbors in Chinatown when she \u201cwas attacked at the threshold of our building. I screamed for help. No one came.\u201d\n<\/p>\n James Ransone.<\/p>\n Jon Kopaloff\/Getty<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\n<\/p>\n \u201cMy attacker put his hands around my throat so I would stop making noise. I couldn\u2019t breathe. I remember the certainty that I was going to die or be raped as I was choked unconscious,\u201d she recalled.\n<\/p>\n Watts continued, \u201cPJ (Ransone\u2019s nickname) heard my screams and ran to help. He came running shirtless, carrying a bat or pipe\u2026 He scared my attacker, who ran. PJ chased him to the building he fled to. Because of the chase, the police were able to identify him, a repeat sexual offender.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cPJ saved me,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if I would have the same life if he hadn\u2019t run down that night. Even as an adult, I\u2019m not sure how I would have handled the weight of what could have happened or how long it would take to heal \u2014 I was already emotionally fragile.\u201d\n<\/p>\n James Ransone.<\/p>\n Emma McIntyre\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n Ransone has spoken to several news outlets about the incident in the years following. While on the Jim and Sam Show<\/a> in 2016, he recounted the event: \u201cI was watching TV with my then-girlfriend at the time. I was in just pajama bottoms. It was like April, and it was raining a little bit. And I hear this scream for help. I hear this commotion, and I run.\u201d\n<\/p>\n On Friday, Dec. 19, Ransone died by suicide at the age of 46. The actor publicly spoke about his past struggles with addiction<\/a> and alleged past childhood abuse<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n In her post, Watts said, \u201cWhat\u2019s especially hard for me with PJ\u2019s passing is that he lived with that kind of violence. What I was spared, he endured in a different form, at an age where there is no emotional defense, and the self is still forming.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cI get the sense that PJ\u2019s like was haunted by what happened to him then. This world is rarely gentle to people who are hurt, vulnerable, acting out.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cOver the years, I have thought of PJ from time to time,\u201d she continued. \u201cI wanted to reach out to him to let him know how grateful I was that he ran towards my screams. I didn\u2019t. I regret that.\u201d\n<\/p>\n If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org<\/a> 24\/7.<\/p>\n