A Nebraska Walmart employee helped a victim of domestic violence escape her abusive boyfriend, who she said had strangled her several times and taken her phone to prevent her from calling for help.
The 47-year-old victim said she’d been trying to get away from Justis Barnhouse for two days so she could return home to Kansas, the Gage County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The sheriff’s office said the victim got the Walmart employee’s attention when she and Barnhouse went into the store last Tuesday afternoon. She signaled the employee to follow her into the restroom, where she told them “about what had happened earlier regarding the strangulation.”
The employee called 911, and deputies located the woman, Barnhouse, and their camper at a truck stop about a half mile from the Walmart.
Barnhouse was arrested and charged with assault by strangulation and domestic assault.
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[Featured image: Justis Barnhouse/Gage County Sheriff’s Office]
