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“She Is Alive!”: Note In Restaurant Bathroom Leads To Woman’s Rescue After Months In Captivity
Exterior view of Jersey Mike's Subs storefront where captive woman's brave cry for help led to her rescue.
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“She Is Alive!”: Note In Restaurant Bathroom Leads To Woman’s Rescue After Months In Captivity

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A crumpled note left in the restroom of the sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s Subs led police to rescue a woman who was being held captive by her pro-wrestler boyfriend.

The plea for help, which included the victim’s address, was discovered at the sub shop in Navarre, Florida, by an employee, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office announced in a press release.

Highlights
  • A woman was rescued after leaving a note with her name and address asking for help in a restaurant restroom.
  • An employee found the note and called 911, and police subsequently discovered the 29-year-old victim with visible injuries at her home.
  • Police arrested the woman’s boyfriend, 34-year-old professional wrestler Jordan Williams, who had held her captive for months.

In the note, the victim “identified herself and indicated she was being held against her will at a nearby residence and feared for her life,” authorities said.

Employee Eleanor Coffee told NBC 15 that she found a “little piece of crumpled up paper that was shoved next to our toilet paper dispenser, and it looked like a piece of trash.

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    Jersey Mike's Subs storefront where captive woman's brave cry for help was hidden in the restroom, leading to rescue.

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    Image credits: tripadvisor

    “[The victim] was like, ‘Please help me. I’m at this address in Navarre. I need you to call the police and do a wellness check.'”

    According to an arrest report obtained by Law & Crime, the handwritten note ended with a plea, reading, “Please help get me home! HELP! Get me before May 30th!”

    Chief Randy Tifft said the woman included many details in the note to help authorities locate her, including the type of car that would be in the driveway.

    Palm Harbour Plaza sign featuring Jersey Mike's Subs, the location linked to captive woman's brave cry for help and rescue.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

    Coffee and her manager immediately contacted authorities, who carried out a wellness check at the address. 

    Upon arriving at the residence, they found a battered 29-year-old woman who detailed “repeated assaults, threats involving weapons, and being held in isolation for a span of several months,” as per the press release. 

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    Eleanor Coffee and her manager immediately called 911 upon reading the cry for help, which included the victim’s name and address

    Jersey Mike's employee wearing uniform and visor, sharing story about captive woman's brave cry for help rescue.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

    Sticky note with the word help written on it symbolizing captive woman's brave cry for help in Jersey Mike's restroom.

    Image credits: Tara Winstead / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    The woman confirmed that she had written the note and said she had been subjected to “a prolonged period of ab*se.”

    She was transported to a local hospital for the treatment of multiple injuries, including suspected broken bones.

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    “Deputies observed visible injuries, and the victim was transported by EMS to a local hospital for treatment of suspected broken bones and other trauma,” described Sheriff Bob Johnson.

    At the residence, police found a battered 29-year-old woman and arrested her boyfriend, wrestler Jordan Williams

    Mugshot of a man with blue hair wearing a blue shirt connected to a captive woman's brave cry for help and rescue.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

    The woman’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Jordan Williams, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, k*dnapping and false imprisonment, felony and misdemeanor battery, and battery by strangulation.

    Williams, a wrestler who performs in a local circuit under the name “Jayden Steele,” had a documented history of domestic violence incidents.

    Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office building exterior related to captive woman's brave cry for help and rescue.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

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    The victim’s mother told police she thought Williams was “controlling” her daughter, who she said suffers from bipolar disorder and a brain tumor.

    The victim’s ex-husband told authorities that Williams allegedly “threatened to k*ll his children and his family” and had held her captive on previous occasions.

    According to Law & Crime, the woman wrote in her note that Williams’ parents were allegedly also involved in holding her against her will at the home.

    According to Sheriff Bob Johnson, the woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of “suspected broken bones and other trauma”

    Porch view with a wind chime and window, related to captive woman’s brave cry for help at Jersey Mike’s subs restroom rescue story.

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    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

    Law enforcement officer in uniform discussing captive woman’s brave cry for help hidden in Jersey Mike’s subs restroom.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

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    Employees said surveillance footage from the store shows the pro-wrestler and the victim explaining that they were picking up DoorDash orders.

    The woman was then seen walking to the restroom, where the note was found about twenty minutes after she left.

    Williams, who had a history of domestic violence cases, was ordered to be held without bond

    Surveillance footage showing captive woman in orange jumpsuit during rescue after brave cry for help at Jersey Mike's restroom.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

    Courtroom scene showing judge, police officer, and attorneys during hearing related to captive woman's brave cry for help case.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

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    Williams denied ever striking the woman. He was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on Thursday (May 29) and ordered to be held without bond, according to online court records. His arraignment is scheduled for June 19.

    “Anybody who would do that to another woman, he don’t need to be walking around free in our community,” stated Chief Tifft.

    Tifft added that, in many cases, women who are held against their will by their partners are “afraid” to seek help.

    Williams was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, felony and misdemeanor battery, and battery by strangulation

    Sign urging victims to report sexual abuse with National Sexual Assault Hotline number, related to captive woman's brave cry for help.

    Image credits: WEAR Channel 3 News / YouTube

    Coffee, the employee who found the note and called 911, shared a message for the victim and expressed hope for her recovery after the traumatic experience.

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    “My heart goes out to her and her family,” she said. “And I’m just, you know, hopeful that really doesn’t happen again.”

    Sheriff Johnson stated that the case represents “the strength of coordinated work by [his] staff and the bravery of the victim.

    “Thanks to her courage and the deputies’ swift actions, she is now safe and receiving care.”

    People congratulated the worker for taking the note seriously and praised the woman for having the courage to defend herself

    Screenshot of a social media comment praising the rescue of a captive woman after her brave cry for help in Jersey Mike's restroom.

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    Facebook comment from Kathy Carman about someone being raised by evil humans, related to captive woman's brave cry for help at Jersey Mike's subs restroom.

    Facebook comment expressing relief that a captive woman’s brave cry for help in Jersey Mike's restroom led to her rescue.

    Facebook comment from a top fan named Dezarayé Valentina expressing excitement about people paying attention.

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    Screenshot of a Facebook comment praising the worker who took captive woman's brave cry for help at Jersey Mike's restroom seriously.

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    Facebook comment praising Jersey Mike's employees for responding to captive woman’s brave cry for help and saving her life.

    Screenshot of a Facebook comment by Rob Dake about wrestling matches in prison referencing a haircut.

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    Facebook comment from Mary Mattheiss praising the brave captive woman’s cry for help leading to her rescue.

    Comment discussing installing note pads in women’s bathrooms to help captive woman’s brave cry for help in Jersey Mike’s subs restroom.

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    Alt text: Facebook comment praising captive woman's brave cry for help leading to her rescue at Jersey Mike's restroom

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    Facebook comment praising Eleanor for her brave move leading to the rescue of a captive woman at Jersey Mike's.

    ALT text: Facebook comment praising employee for noticing captive woman’s cry for help in Jersey Mike's restroom and saving her life

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    Marina Urman

    Marina Urman

    Author, Entertainment News Writer

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    With a degree in social science and a love for culture, I approach entertainment journalism at Bored Panda with a research-driven mindset. I write about celebrity news, Hollywood highlights, and viral stories that spark curiosity worldwide. My work has reached millions of readers and is recognized for balancing accuracy with an engaging voice. I believe that pop culture isn’t just entertainment, it reflects the social conversations shaping our time.

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    Marina Urman

    Marina Urman

    Author, Entertainment News Writer

    With a degree in social science and a love for culture, I approach entertainment journalism at Bored Panda with a research-driven mindset. I write about celebrity news, Hollywood highlights, and viral stories that spark curiosity worldwide. My work has reached millions of readers and is recognized for balancing accuracy with an engaging voice. I believe that pop culture isn’t just entertainment, it reflects the social conversations shaping our time.

    Donata Leskauskaitė

    Donata Leskauskaitė

    Author, Community member

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    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    Donata Leskauskaitė

    Donata Leskauskaitė

    Author, Community member

    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

    What do you think ?
    ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM
    Community Member
    6 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Abúse, kídnapping, kíll, and séxual ássault. Seriously BP, STOP CENSORING THESE! The ONLY thing it achieves is to TABOO THE TOPIC, SHAME THE VICTIMS and HELP THE PERPETRATORS. And all for what? Ad revenue. Maybe it's time to find new partners - but crappíly censoring stolen reddit posts is easier, right?

    Patty Panda
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the reason BP censors the words is to reduce bot activity on the site. It's my understanding that the more times the site's content has certain words, the more the site attracts bots. But maybe I'm wrong

    Load More Replies...
    The Majestic Opossum
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The sad thing is that for every victim that is rescued, there are countless others out there that are not...

    Shane S
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Keeping a person against their will isn’t powerful. It’s very weak, actually. Weak, pathetic, pitiful men.

    Load More Comments
    ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM
    Community Member
    6 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Abúse, kídnapping, kíll, and séxual ássault. Seriously BP, STOP CENSORING THESE! The ONLY thing it achieves is to TABOO THE TOPIC, SHAME THE VICTIMS and HELP THE PERPETRATORS. And all for what? Ad revenue. Maybe it's time to find new partners - but crappíly censoring stolen reddit posts is easier, right?

    Patty Panda
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the reason BP censors the words is to reduce bot activity on the site. It's my understanding that the more times the site's content has certain words, the more the site attracts bots. But maybe I'm wrong

    Load More Replies...
    The Majestic Opossum
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The sad thing is that for every victim that is rescued, there are countless others out there that are not...

    Shane S
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Keeping a person against their will isn’t powerful. It’s very weak, actually. Weak, pathetic, pitiful men.

    Load More Comments
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