LOUISVILLE, KY – In a gripping trial unfolding in Louisville, Moises May stands accused of a chilling series of crimes against his girlfriend, Jonna Wilson, including restraining her with metal chains. May, assertively maintaining his innocence, bizarrely suggested Wilson had chained herself due to infidelity issues, according to police testimony.
At the heart of the trial, Detective Brittany O’Neil of the Louisville Metro Police Department refuted May’s claims based on her investigation, finding no credible evidence supporting self-imprisonment. O’Neil argued that May’s narrative fell apart under scrutiny while providing stark details that painted a grim picture of Wilson’s ordeal, especially as she was found shackled inside a home in Louisville’s Park Hill neighborhood in August 2023.
Testifying this week, O’Neil outlined how May allegedly brutalized Wilson, including cutting her hair with a machete. May’s twisted explanation reportedly shifted from a supposed lost bet to Wilson wanting a haircut for a dye job—a testament to the inconsistencies in his statements.
The case took an even darker turn with accusations that May trafficked Wilson, forcing her into unwanted sexual encounters for financial gain. This, O’Neil stated, happened on at least five separate occasions.
Disturbing body camera footage has been central to the prosecution’s case, vividly capturing Wilson’s rescue from the confines of her captivity. The footage, showing Wilson in a state of distress, exposed the lengths officers had to go to reach her, eventually using a ladder to access the second-story room where she was chained.
The rescue operation was triggered by concerned neighbors who contacted the authorities after hearing Wilson’s cries for help emanating through a broken window. Responding officers found the house heavily barricaded, complicating their efforts to reach the second floor where Wilson awaited rescue.
Documents obtained from an arrest citation reveal the harrowing details of Wilson’s detention. May allegedly assaulted her physically, demanded she remove clothing, and threatened murder unless she complied, the situation remaining dire until her eventual escape.
In poignant reflections with media in August, Wilson recounted her survival instinct during the ordeal, fearing that failing to escape when she did might seal her fate.
May, facing a litany of charges, including kidnapping and human trafficking, has entered a not-guilty plea. Closing arguments in his trial were scheduled, with jurors expected to begin deliberations soon as the community and those involved hold their breaths for justice.