Kidnapped victim calls 911

Updated: 11/08/2011 10:22 pm | Published: 11/07/2011 1:41 pm

OREM, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Police say the victim of an assault and kidnapping was able to call 911 during her ordeal, which led officers to her location.

Police say the incident occurred early Sunday morning, when 911 dispatchers alerted officers to an open call.

Police say in the background, dispatchers could hear a woman pleading for someone to stop.

When they arrived at the residence, and when no one would answer the door, police say officers forced their way inside.

Once inside, police say officers found the victim, a 48-year-old Orem woman with her hands bound together with tape in the closet.

Police say the victim's live-in boyfriend, 46-year-old Joseph Berg was arrested and taken to the Utah County Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of kidnapping and domestic violence assault.

ABC 4 News spoke with the vicitm's friend whi is deeply concerned.

“I’m afraid he’s going to kill her. He’s done other things before," said her friend Nicole Grace. “He took her pants off, started hitting her, grabbing her hair and drug her through the house.”

After the victim was treated at a local hospital police brought her to stay with Grace at her home.

She learned that her friend was dragged into a closet when police came knocking.

“He ended up taking her hands and taping them together," Grace said. "He taped her to the dresser.”

While in the closet, Grace says Berg tried to keep her quiet.

“He suffocated her by grabbing something to tape her mouth shut," she said.

She says Berg was also in the closet when police found them.

Berg is a cosmetic surgeon in Orem and court records show he has a history of domestic violence.

But what bothers Grace the most is her friend took him back in today after he was released from jail.

“I want to be there for her but I can’t handle it," Grace said. "I’ve been abused before and I’m not going to be around it anymore. I’m just afraid he’s going to end up killing her.”

Grace now says her friend doesn't want to press charges. But police say it's too la

"We have enough evidence to press charges," said Sgt. Craig Martinez of the Orem police department. "But the Utah County attorney will make the final decision."

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Beadlady - 8/29/2012 10:20 AM

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Women who stay in relationships like this, typically have no money, no marketable skills, no self esteem, and no place to go. The man isn't stupid. He knows he has the perfect victim to use as his personal punching bag. I used to be an advocate for a safehouse in Colorado a long time ago. They used to take the woman to the hospital to treat her injuries and put the man up in a hotel to "cool off." Utter BS. The laws have changed, thank God, and now if the cops see any injuries, they take him to jail and she can't change her mind about pressing charges. The only way to change this cycle of abuse is to help the woman get a job and/or education and a place to stay. Some will go back, some won't. But we have to try to help.

Valerie - 11/9/2011 7:59 PM

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To Melissa V. - Please READ the comment more carefully. Nothing to WOW about. Of course abuse is never okay, and nothing I wrote indicates otherwise. People sometimes do the wrong thing (EVERYONE I KNOW HAS - DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE PERFECT???) This is what was said: stress brings out the worst in all of us. It doesn't mean it's okay - it means in our human condition we are vulnerable, and sometimes do the wrong thing by acting in a way that is beneath our best self. Again, please READ the comment carefully.

justavoice - 11/9/2011 9:11 AM

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Here's what I know of this situation and of this man and his "live-in" girlfriend...Mr. Berg has personally threatened my life, LITERALLY! This man is a known drug user and has been trying to take his children away from his ex-wife,while also threatening her life. As for these charges he has been accused of also abusing his live-in's children as well. His live-in, named Lucy Schartz, has or is till currently under investigation for: prostitution, theft, drunk driving and even for CHILD ABUSE herself. Does anyone deserve to be abused...ABSOLUTELY NOT!! SHe has known about him from the get go. I too have been abused by an ex, so I know how hard it is. But both of these people are cheats, liars, child abusers, etc....I am sad to say but what goes around comes around.

littleangels - 11/8/2011 11:12 AM

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You can get away I have been there and lived it. It's hard but it came down to me and my kids or him and I chose US. I agree with whoknows I can't feel sorry for someone who keeps putting themselves in this situation. If she had tried to leave and he did something that is one thing but she has obviously made no attempt and has no plan to. I lived in a horrible marriage for 10 years, I didn't leave because I had two little girls and no idea where we would go, then one day I woke up and I was in jail for fighting back, my kids were in the state's custody and I realized that if I didn't take the first step to get away I may never have the opportunity to take that first step. I am now in a relationship with a man who would never put his hands on me and he adores my children. Getting help starts first with you wanting help.

jreed1 - 11/8/2011 11:06 AM

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This is a terrible story, but one I am all too familiar with. My fiancee and I are over here on the east coast. Her sister's "new boyfriend" has alienated her from the rest of her own family and friends, and is verbally and psycologically abusive. My fiancee is effectively cutting here sister off now, and it's not because she wants too. It all boils down to this; You give someone the best advice in the world, but if they choose to stick in a bad relationship, they only have themselves to blame!

fleaky02 - 11/8/2011 10:26 AM

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@whoknows... You really should change that tune of yours. Ask me where my mother is at? She's dead. How did she die? Not by the hands of her husband. Her sister, my aunt, was in a relationship with a sicko and left him. The P O S stalked her for over two years. One day he decided if he couldn't have my aunt he'd make her life miserable. He broke into my mother's home, ate her food, and hid in her basement. Two days later he raped and strangled my mom. Who is at fault here? My mom? My aunt? A lot of these women do everything right and leave after the first time they're abused but a lot of the men continue on stalking and abusing these women. You can run so far but you can't ever get away. Not only do you have to fear for your life but you have to fear for the lives of your family and friends! You don't know what he said or did to her to make her stay.

whoknows - 11/8/2011 10:13 AM

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You know what, and people can slam me for this all they want, but in the end, i am correct. I feel absolutely nothing in terms of feeling bad for this woman. As a matter of fact, ANY woman who , after just the very first time, gets beat or abused physically, but doesn't leave....yea. You can throw every excuse out there at me and it still doesnt change, "oh she loves him, he said he will never do it again"...blah blah blah, this man got arrested, she went to the hospital, then THEN, takes him back in?!?! No remorse for her whatsoever she can get out and away from him if she really wanted to and the fact she doesnt...gah ..yea poor you. whatever, enjoy having your butt kicked around the house until one of your children kill him or themselves.

MelissaV - 11/8/2011 9:50 AM

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Valarie...WOW..this is the most ignorant comment I have heard about some one abusing some one. Really? Your statement is jus ignorant "has been through a difficult divorce and his children are suffering. Stress brings out the worst in all of us" It is okay to abuse some one if you have been thru a divorce and are stressed? It is NEVER okay to treat someone like this woman was treated.

teremist - 11/8/2011 9:16 AM

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We all have extreme stress at least some of the time. Violence is a CHOICE, there is NO EXCUSE. If you are too weak to control your anger and frustration LEAVE. No one has the right to use another person as a punching bag. You want to hit something? GO TO THE GYM.

NORMAJEAN123 - 11/8/2011 9:15 AM

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Valarie WHAT? Two things wrong with this so called good reporting! First nice going telling this creep where the victim will be staying so he can find the victim and her friend. Second USE THE SPELL CHECK BUTTON.......

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