Lisa Rinna reveals that before she was born, her mom was almost murdered by serial killer

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna is opening up about her mother's brush with death after being attacked by a Bay Area serial killer nearly six decades ago.

During Tuesday's episode of the Bravo reality show, the actress, 55, revealed, "a few years… before I was born my mom was attacked by a man that she worked with."

Rinna said Lois, now 90, worked with David Carpenter, who picked up Lois at the bus stop in 1960 and abruptly drove down a "really deserted road."

"He tried to rape her. He tried to killer her," she said. "Luckily, a military policeman had seen them drive down this deserted road and he knew no one was supposed to be down there and he followed them down. My mom was saved that day by that military policeman."

Related: Lisa Rinna’s model daughter Amelia Gray opens up about the difficulties of eating disorders

Lois added, "That was a really bad thing. I knew him. I thought that was it. … He’s straddling me. He had a hammer in one hand and a knife in the other."

Rinna's mother is believed to be one of the first victims of Carpenter, who later became known as the Trailside Killer for stalking and killing victims on hiking trails near San Francisco.

"I was lucky. Very lucky. I shouldn't be here. You shouldn't even be here," Lois said to her daughter during the episode. "I was the first one he went to jail for. They gave him seven and a half years."

Carpenter was arrested for attempted murder in 1960 for his attack on Lois and served additional time behind bars in 1970 for rape and parole violations, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Upon his release, the outlet reported that Carpenter killed six women and one man along trails in Marin and Santa Cruz counties during a span of eight months in 1980-81.

He was arrested in May 1981 and identified by an eighth victim who survived a gunshot wound, the Chronicle added. Carpenter, now 88, is currently on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

After the episode aired, Rinna shared a picture of her mother and father on Instagram, writing, "I am so proud of my Mom and I know Dad is watching from heaven and is so proud of you Mama! I love you!"

"When I finally learned the truth, I had such great sadness and empathy for my mom," Rinna said during the episode. "It takes so much courage to come forward. I think the least we can do is show these victims some compassion."

Related: New castmate Denise Richards looks at home in 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' trailer

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lisa Rinna reveals that before she was born, her mom was almost murdered by serial killer