When the uniforms entered, they saw a gagged, terrified woman. She was undressed and had a heavy chain around her neck chained to the wall. Joanna Wilson was a victim of domestic violence by Moises May – a 36-year-old partner who abused the woman in a bestial way. After her release, the American gave her testimony. She revealed, among other things, that the man was furious because she did not tell him that she was going to leave the house. The torturer first brutally beat her. He then ordered her to take off her clothes and handcuffed her partner with a thick chain. According to the victim’s account, May cut her hair with a machete.
He made me strip naked and put a chain around my neck. He called his friend and then said, ‘I have to take this equipment to Lowe’s. When I come back, I’ll kill you’
the woman testified.
“There was no way out of the house”
In order to completely prevent her from escaping, the tormentor locked all the doors and windows. Joanna Wilson made a great effort to open one of the windows. Thanks to this, she was able to call the neighbors who immediately alerted the appropriate services. However, the locks turned out to be so solid that even the fire brigade had trouble breaking the door.
(…) They were so locked up. Every window locked, every door. There was no way out of the house,” Wilson quoted WDRB as saying. However, firefighters managed to get to the trapped woman thanks to a ladder – they climbed it to the second floor of the building. To free the woman, they cut the chain with special bar cutters.
The woman was immediately transported to the hospital. Moises May, 36, was arrested. He has already heard allegations of kidnapping, assault and criminal threats addressed to his partner. He is currently under investigation.
Home abuse. Where to look for help? List of numbers and institutions
It should be emphasized that people experiencing all kinds of domestic violence can benefit from a number of ad hoc solutions. lists three forms of action in this regard: intervention, support and therapy.
Intervention means actions taken immediately, as a result of an urgent need – most often it is reporting the case to the police, informing specific services, institutions or organizations. Support in turn, it is an aid, necessary in the case of difficult and complicated situations. Usually, it is emotional support, the purpose of which is to build a sense of security, as well as acceptance and a space where the person experiencing violence feels heard and understood, and most importantly – not abandoned and not left alone. This type of support is most often provided by people working in first contact centers for family members involved in domestic violence. Emotional support can also take the form of a group.
Therapy this is usually the next step. As the State Agency for Solving Alcohol Problems explains in one of the textbooks, it is “a planned, usually long-term work process, offered to people who are guaranteed relative safety, but are unable to cope with the consequences of experiencing violence.”
There are different types of tools that a person experiencing domestic violence can use. The first is helpline, about which you can find out more at the Telephone counseling center for victims of crime, “with particular emphasis on people experiencing domestic violence and its witnesses”, each time guarantees anonymity. It operates daily from 12.00-18.00. The number to dial is: 22 668 70 00.
In addition, the offer of the “Blue Line” is available 24/7 free phone for victims of domestic violence: 800 12 00 02. On Mondays from 18.00-20.00 consultations are held in Polish. English, Tuesdays from 18.00-22.00 – in Polish Russian. Telephone legal advice The “Blue Line” operates on Mondays and Tuesdays from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm by calling tel. 22 666 28 50and on Wednesdays from 18.00-22.00 – tel. 800 12 00 02. You can also contact the clinic via Skype: ambulance.blue.line. The service is also available for sign language speakers.
The “Blue Line” also provides for interventions in the event of a threat to the health or life of a person experiencing a crime, and also provides a database of all institutions and entities to which these persons can be directed.
How to help a person experiencing violence?
Detailed information on how to seek help if you are a victim or witness of domestic violence can be found on the government website In addition, there are also operating in Poland:
- Information and Consultation Points for Victims of Violence, operating in every district. They are the so-called first contact,
- Special support centers that guarantee shelter from 3 to even 6 months,
- Crisis intervention centers,
- Shelters and hostels for victims of domestic violence,
- Nationwide facilities offering help to people experiencing domestic violence.
Helping women in difficult life situations, experiencing domestic violence also proves Women’s Rights Center Foundation. The organization runs a hotline: 22 621 35 37 (psychological duty: Monday-Wednesday and Friday 10.00-16.00, legal duty: Thursday 10.00-16.00), as well as an emergency hotline for women experiencing various forms of violence – 600 070 717. People experiencing or witnessing violence can contact the foundation by e-mail: pomoc@cpk.org.pl, advice.prawne@cpk.org.pl, advice. psychological@cpk.org.pl.
Sources: WDRB.com/Fox News/”Domestic violence: A journalist’s information kit”/ National Agency for Solving Alcohol Problems Warsaw 2019/https://www.niebieskalinia.info/www.gov.pl/stopuzaleznieniom.com
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
