A Kentucky man on trial for a horrifying series of alleged abuses against his girlfriend claimed she chained herself up because she couldn’t stop cheating — a story detectives say doesn’t match the evidence.
Moises May, of Louisville, is facing multiple felony charges, including kidnapping and human trafficking, after police say they found Jonna Wilson, the mother of his child, chained to the floor of a second-story bedroom in August 2023.
According to Detective Brittany O’Neil of the Louisville Metro Police, May told officers Wilson had voluntarily chained herself due to infidelity. But O’Neil testified this week that there was no indication Wilson had done this to herself. “It didn’t seem like something she could have done alone,” she told the court, according to local affiliate WDRB.
The investigation revealed far more disturbing details. May allegedly:
Chained Wilson by the neck with a MasterLock, bolting her to the floor.
Cut her hair with a machete, telling police it was part of a lost bet — though later changing his story.
Forced her to strip and threatened to kill her, saying, “Next time you leave and don’t come home, I’ll kill you.”
Trafficked her for sex at least five times, according to O’Neil’s testimony.
The chilling rescue occurred after neighbors heard Wilson screaming from an upstairs window and called 911. Police arrived to find the first floor barricaded. When they couldn’t gain entry, one officer used a ladder to reach the second floor, where he found Wilson trembling, crying, and chained.
Bodycam footage captured Wilson’s rescue, with her thanking officers. “He never let me in there,” she says in the video, pointing to a padlocked room.
According to police records reviewed by Law&Crime, May had assaulted and threatened Wilson during an argument, cut off most of her hair, and kept her restrained for roughly five hours before her escape.
Wilson later spoke out, saying, “If I didn’t get free now, I’d be dead.” She recalled May saying, “I’ve got to return this equipment to Lowe’s. When I come back, I’m going to kill you.”
May has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Closing arguments are expected Thursday, and the jury will soon decide his fate.