What started as a panicked plea for help in Proctorville turned into a disturbing story of violence, fear, and misplaced loyalty — where a woman admits she lied to deputies out of devotion and “street code.”
When officers first responded, the woman said she had simply fallen down the stairs while carrying laundry. Deputies noted her visible bruises and bleeding hand but accepted her account when she insisted she wasn’t hurt by anyone.
But over the next two days, the truth came out. Deputies were called back repeatedly — each time uncovering more bruises, new injuries, and a more horrifying account.
She finally admitted she had been beaten, choked, hit with a plastic tote lid, and run over twice with a truck by her husband after a series of violent arguments. Tearfully, she told deputies she was “sorry for lying” but explained she didn’t want to “put anyone in jail” because “that goes against the street code.”
The abuse continued even after that admission — with the husband allegedly grabbing her by the hair, punching her in the ribs, and choking her again when she tried to leave. Deputies documented bruises on her chest, arms, and back.
When officers tried to place her in a domestic violence shelter, they were told it was full. She refused medical treatment and said she planned to leave the home on her own.
“Street Code” Can Be Deadly
This is a heartbreaking example of how “street code” — the unwritten rule to stay quiet and handle things privately — can keep victims trapped in abuse.
No loyalty or code is worth your life. If someone’s choking you, hitting you, or running you over with a car, that’s not love — that’s violence.
If you or someone you know is in danger, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7.