Possibly unrelated to such a horrific story, though I'm not sure - the moment she seems to break out of the trance could be what's called terminal lucidity.

Emphasis on 'could be' because terminal lucidity is usually more of a dementia/neurodegenerative brain disease thing. It's the experience reported by many where those with destroyed brains on the verge of death, suddenly appear to regain consciousness with the world for a brief period of time.

I don't know if it happens in deaths like the one you described, but regardless I guess I thought it was interesting to share.