The call was quiet, strained, and difficult to understand — a woman whispering for help while trying not to be heard. Deputies knew immediately something was wrong.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a domestic violence call in which the female caller told dispatch she had been assaulted and appeared to be hiding while on the phone.
When deputies arrived, a man later identified as Scott Hysell answered the door. Moments later, the woman came into view and stated she had been assaulted. Due to the seriousness of the allegations, Hysell was detained while deputies separated the two and began their investigation.
Inside the home, the woman told deputies there was an active protection order in place against Hysell stemming from a prior domestic violence case. She reported that earlier in the day Hysell assaulted her and attempted to strangle her. Deputies observed visible red marks on both sides of her neck consistent with her account. She declined medical treatment but agreed to provide a sworn written statement.
Hysell was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with deputies. He denied that anything physical had occurred and said the two had only been arguing. He did, however, acknowledge that a protection order was active against him and admitted he had not attended the related court hearing. Dispatch later confirmed the protection order was valid and on file.
In her written statement, the woman described a series of escalating events. She said the incident began with an argument in the kitchen, where Hysell knocked a coffee cup from her hands and insulted her. When she told him to leave, she said his behavior intensified. She reported being shoved, threatened, and later chased through the home. She stated she locked him out briefly, but he re-entered using a key, cornered her in a laundry room, and choked her against a wall. She also reported being slapped in the face before hiding again and calling 911.
Deputies photographed injuries including redness to the neck, facial marks, and a small cut to her lip. She stated she wished to pursue charges.
Hysell was transported to the Lawrence County Jail and booked on the following charges:
- Felony Strangulation (3rd Degree)
- Domestic Violence (1st Degree Misdemeanor)
- Violation of a Protection Order (1st Degree Misdemeanor)
He was taken into custody without incident.
Domestic violence calls remain some of the most dangerous and unpredictable situations deputies face — and cases like this underscore why whispered calls for help are always treated as emergencies.
