He was scared, he didn't believe it,' Rukundo said. 22, and she waited for her own evening funeral to begin before she sprung out to surprise Kalala and a group of mourners. They called the man who paid to have her abducted, and Rukundo heard her husband's voice say, 'Kill her.'ĭespite being given the order, the hitmen later refused to because 'we don't kill women and children.' They gave her 80 hours to leave the country, and even handed over the evidence to incriminate Kalala.

Rukundo was dozing at her lodging in Bujumbura when Kalala suddenly called and encouraged her to go outside for 'fresh air.' When she took his advice, she was kidnapped by a gunman and taken away in a car. Per BBC, Rukundo and Kalala were both living in Melbourne, Australia, when Rukundo had to travel to Bujumbura, Burundi, on Feb. Lifetime hasn't confirmed which exact case Death Saved My Life is based on, but it's very likely inspired by that of Noela Rukundo, who faked her own death in 2015 after her 'violent' husband Balenga Kalala attempted to have her killed. When she attempts to leave, he warns her, “If I can’t have you, nobody will.” When she discovers he's hired a hitman to kill her, Jade realizes the only way to escape is to convince Ed that the hitman succeeded. But behind closed doors, Ed is controlling and abusive. Based on a true story, Death Saved My Life stars The Intruder actor Meagan Good as Jade, a woman who literally fakes her own death to escape from her abusive husband.Īccording to Lifetime's official synopsis, Death Saved My Life is inspired by the story of 'a woman who faked her death in order to trap her husband after he hires a hitman to kill her.' Jade is a successful marketer, and her and her husband Ed (Chiké Okonkwo) are admired and respected in their community. Lifetime Network's 'Ripped From the Headlines” franchise dramatizes real life crimes, and their latest thriller is as wild as it gets.

Death saved my life