Louisville, Ky. – A Louisville man is facing serious charges, including kidnapping, human trafficking, and harassment, after allegedly chaining a woman to the floor of a home near the Park Hill neighborhood in 2023. The man, Moises May, claims that the woman, Jonna Wilson, “did it herself,” but police testimony has cast doubt on this assertion.
During the second day of the trial, Detective Brittany O’Neil testified that May told investigators that he and Wilson had an agreement: if she didn’t go to rehab, she would chain herself up. May also reportedly claimed that Wilson chained herself because she believed he was cheating on her. However, O’Neil emphasized that there was no evidence to support this claim, describing it as implausible.
May is accused of forcing Wilson to engage in sex work to make money, with the prosecution presenting disturbing evidence, including videos of some of the encounters. The defense, however, has contended that these acts were consensual, although this has yet to be substantiated.
One of the most harrowing allegations involves May cutting Wilson’s hair with a machete. According to May, Wilson “lost a bet” over a game of checkers, but O’Neil stated that May later admitted to cutting her hair because she wanted to dye it, and when he refused to help, she allegedly told him to cut it instead.
As the trial continues, the credibility of May’s statements is increasingly being called into question. O’Neil testified that it was difficult to believe that Wilson could have chained herself up voluntarily, given the circumstances.
The prosecution concluded its case on Wednesday, with no witnesses called by the defense. The jury is expected to receive the case on Thursday after closing arguments.
May is accused of chaining Wilson by the neck inside a house without running water or access to food, where she remained until she managed to kick out a window and scream for help. A neighbor, who heard her cries, called 911. The house was barricaded with the windows and doors sealed shut.
In dramatic testimony, one of the first officers on the scene described finding Wilson with a padlock chained around her neck, bolted to the ground. The officer used an axe to free her. Police also struggled to exit the house after entering through the window, as the doors had been barricaded. Firefighters were ultimately called in and used a battering ram to force their way inside.
Body camera footage shown to the jury revealed Wilson in an emotional state, hyperventilating and crying as she tried to lead police around the home. At one point, she told officers, “He never let me in there,” referring to a room with a padlocked door.
Wilson had previously shared her harrowing story in an interview with WDRB News, recounting how May made her strip naked, put a chain around her neck, and threatened to kill her when he returned to the house. She said that she had only a few minutes to escape before May returned, adding that the doors and windows were all screwed shut, leaving her with little hope of freedom.
The ordeal took place on August 16, 2023, when Wilson, who shares a daughter with May, visited the home to help clean after he allegedly asked for assistance. She said she had been gone for several days, and when she saw May on his bike, he requested that she come over to clean and promised to pay her for her time.
As the trial draws to a close, the shocking details of Wilson’s captivity are a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of domestic abuse and human trafficking. The jury will soon be tasked with determining May’s fate after hearing the disturbing evidence presented by the prosecution.
