A 36-year-old woman has been rescued after police discovered her half-naked, shackled by a chain in the backyard of a home belonging to people she once called her friends. Authorities say she had been held captive for months, subjected to “unimaginable cruelty,” and left in a makeshift enclosure behind a suburban house in Missouri.
The disturbing discovery was made after a neighbor contacted authorities about hearing faint cries for help near midnight. When officers arrived at the home, they followed the sound of muffled screams to a small wooden shed behind the property. Inside, they found the woman barefoot, covered in dirt and bruises, and chained by her neck to a metal post.
“She looked terrified and skeletal,” said one responding officer, speaking to NBC News. “The smell was unbearable. You could tell she’d been out there for a very long time.”
Investigators identified the suspects as 39-year-old Jessica Lee and her boyfriend, 41-year-old Marcus Brown, both of whom were taken into custody. Prosecutors allege the pair held the woman against her will after a falling out over “petty arguments and jealousy.” One of the suspects allegedly told police they “didn’t like her anymore” and “wanted to teach her a lesson.”
“They found her chained by the neck in a backyard shed. You can’t imagine something like that happening in a quiet neighborhood.” @CBSNews
Detectives believe the woman was imprisoned in the yard for nearly eight weeks, enduring scorching heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night. Authorities found evidence that her captors had been feeding her scraps and forcing her to relieve herself in a bucket.
“She was literally treated worse than an animal,” said Sheriff James Porter. “It’s one of the most horrific cases of prolonged confinement I’ve seen in my 25 years.”
According to court documents, the woman had once lived with the suspects, describing them as close friends who “took her in when she had nowhere to go.” Investigators say that after she argued with Jessica Lee over a missing phone, she was beaten, restrained, and told she “wasn’t leaving until she learned some respect.”
Neighbors told ABC News they often heard strange noises coming from the yard but assumed it was an animal. “We thought it was a dog crying,” said one woman who lives next door. “Now I’ll never forget that sound. It was her.”
“Police said she was chained like an animal — but she was still alive, still fighting.” @guardian
Paramedics transported the woman to a local hospital where doctors confirmed she was severely dehydrated and suffering from malnutrition, burns, and multiple infections. “It’s a miracle she survived,” one trauma specialist told CNN. “Her body had clearly been pushed beyond human limits.”
Officers found a length of heavy industrial chain attached to a collar around her neck, secured by a padlock. Investigators also seized a stun gun, ropes, and makeshift restraints from the suspects’ property. “There was intent,” Sheriff Porter said. “This wasn’t spontaneous. It was deliberate, systematic torture.”
In a chilling detail, one of the suspects allegedly bragged to friends online that they had “dealt with her” and posted vague messages referring to a “house pet who doesn’t talk back.” Those social media posts, which circulated on X before being deleted, have now become key evidence in the prosecution’s case.
Prosecutors have charged both Lee and Brown with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and aggravated assault. More charges are expected as the investigation continues. “We’re uncovering disturbing evidence that this was not the first time they’d done something like this,” an investigator told Reuters.
“The woman told officers she prayed every night that someone would hear her.” @NBCNews
Police say the victim told them she survived by rationing rainwater that dripped into the shed. “She said she’d whisper to herself just to hear another voice,” one officer recalled. “It’s haunting — the strength it took for her to survive this.”
The rescue has drawn comparisons to several infamous captivity cases in the U.S., including the Cleveland abductions in 2013. Advocates for victims of abuse say the case underscores how manipulation and isolation often begin long before physical imprisonment. “These people were her friends,” said trauma psychologist Dr. Ellen Morris. “That’s what makes it even more horrific — betrayal by people you trusted.”
The woman, now recovering under protective care, told detectives she thought she would die there. “They said no one would care if I disappeared,” she reportedly said. “I started to believe them.”
Local residents have set up a GoFundMe page to support her recovery, with messages of love and outrage pouring in from across the country. “What she went through is inhuman,” wrote one donor. “I hope she never doubts her worth again.”
As for the suspects, they are being held without bail while awaiting trial. Prosecutors have vowed to seek the maximum sentence. “Evil hides in plain sight,” Sheriff Porter said grimly. “Sometimes it lives right next door.”
