A woman in Louisville was chained for hours before being rescued by police after neighbors responded to her screams.

Police in Louisville recently uncovered a distressing situation in a two-story residence on Bolling Avenue. The horrifying discovery revolved around a woman who had been chained to the floor for several hours by her estranged boyfriend. This incident has reignited discussions about domestic violence and its often silent victims, Fox News reported.

The Louisville Metro Police Department was alerted to the incident when neighbors reported hearing desperate cries for help coming from the home. This call led officers to a two-story residence in the 1700 block of Bolling Avenue on the evening of Aug. 16th.

The distressing scene inside the house

Upon reaching the house, police found every door and window on the first floor had been barricaded from the inside, making their access difficult. They had to use a ladder, provided by neighbors, to enter the house through a shattered window on the second floor, USA Today reported.

Inside, they found Joanna Wilson, the victim, chained to the floor by a metal dog collar around her neck. The other end of the chain was securely bolted to the floor. The sight was chilling: A crying woman with a chain padlocked around her neck, pleading for help. The officers acted swiftly, using a hatchet they found in the room to chop the end of the chain bolted to the ground.

Joanna Wilson recalled her horrifying experience, saying that she was chained up for roughly 5 hours before police arrived.

A history of domestic troubles

Joanna Wilson alleged that her ordeal was orchestrated by Moises May, her estranged boyfriend and the father of her child. According to Wilson,

"He made me strip naked, he put the chain around my neck. He called his friend and said, 'I've got to take this equipment back to Lowe's. When I come back, I'm going to kill you. I only had a few minutes to get out."

Records showed that the confrontation began with an argument. During the altercation, May reportedly held Wilson down on a bathroom floor and used a machete to cut off most of her hair. Moises May was subsequently arrested and arraigned in Jefferson County District Court. He was charged with several crimes, including kidnapping, wanton endangerment, assault, and terroristic threatening.

The legal process unfolds

Ray Padilla, the digital producer for the Courier-Journal, reported that Moises May pleaded not guilty to these charges. He faces a slew of accusations, including two counts of assault, terroristic threatening, intimidating a participant in the legal process, wanton endangerment, and harassment.

Wilson, still recovering from her traumatic experience, shared that her child is currently safe and staying with other family members.

With the bodycam footage from the rescue now released to the public, the case has garnered significant attention and sparked discussions about the silent victims of domestic abuse.

Lessons to learn from this tragedy

• Trust your instincts: If you hear or see something suspicious in your community, report it. Your vigilance might save a life.
• Know the signs: Recognize the early signs of domestic violence and provide resources or assistance if you suspect someone might be a victim.
• Seek help: Victims should remember that there's no shame in seeking help. Whether through law enforcement, hotlines, or community resources, assistance is available.

Why this story matters

This harrowing incident sheds light on the often hidden world of domestic violence. Many victims, like Joanna, endure abuse in silence, out of fear or a misplaced sense of shame. Awareness about such incidents is crucial to ensure that communities can rally around victims and provide them with the necessary support.

Stories like this also emphasize the importance of community vigilance. The neighbors, upon hearing Joanna's cries for help, didn't dismiss them. They took action, potentially saving her life.

Moreover, it's imperative to recognize and address signs of escalating domestic violence to prevent such tragic events in the future. Law enforcement agencies, social workers, and local communities need to be better equipped and educated to handle these situations.

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