Michael Bellah, the culprit of this merciless crime, is still in prison. She was from Josephine County, and she dialed 911 to complain that her violent ex-boyfriend was attempting to break into her home, but in reply, she was told that there were no officers on duty to help her.

The operator replied, “I don’t have anybody to send out there.” You know, if he comes into your house and violates you, can you ask him to leave?

The woman clarified that her ex-boyfriend, Michael Bellah, had put her in the hospital just weeks prior and had been attempting to get rid of him.

The accused, Michael Bellah, was later taken to jail and pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assault.

Michael Bellah’s case had been in the headlines for several years. The story has come into the limelight after Josephine County residents narrowly defeated a ballot measure that may have stopped tragedies like this.

Due to the number of deputies at Josephine County’s Sheriff’s Department having been cut, seeking the termination of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act – a multimillion-dollar annual federal aid payment for timber-producing counties.

The remaining officers were only accessible from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.

The woman’s miserable call came on a Saturday. The county dispatcher conveyed her call to the state police, but at the time of the crime, there were no state troopers within easy reach to help her.

Several sheriff’s department officers have expressed grief about this case. One of them said the risk she was reporting was real. The state police wanted her ex for heartless violations. We’re not using the woman’s name because it’s NPR’s policy not to name the victims of sexual assault. She told dispatch her ex had hurt her before.