Woman Allegedly Beaten With Hammer Just 30 Minutes After Police Dropped Her Home With Protection Order

A Tennessee woman was allegedly brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend just 30 minutes after police drove her home following her efforts to obtain a protection order against him, according to authorities.

Bailey Perger was found bleeding and suffering extensive injuries to her head and face in the backyard of her Nashville home on October 17, 2026. Her father, Jeremy Perger, told local media that his daughter had obtained an order of protection against her former boyfriend, Ross Peterson, earlier that morning.

According to police, officers had previously responded after Perger reported receiving threatening text messages from Peterson and described an argument at her home. They helped her obtain a protection order and a harassment warrant before driving her back to the residence.

But the situation allegedly escalated shortly afterward. Police said Peterson returned to the property and was seen damaging Perger’s vehicle. When she went outside, an attack allegedly followed. Investigators later recovered a hammer from the backyard as evidence.

Perger’s family said she underwent facial surgery and faces a long recovery. Her father expressed anguish over the attack, while relatives asked for continued support as she begins the difficult process of healing.

Peterson was later arrested in Arkansas and faces multiple charges related to the alleged assault, including aggravated assault. He remains accused of the crime, and the allegations have yet to be proven in court.

The case raises painful questions about the challenges of protecting people facing threats from former partners. For Perger and her family, the immediate focus is now on her recovery and the pursuit of justice.

Source: Law&Crime — Woman Found Beaten With Hammer After Police Dropped Her Home Following Protection Order