Albany woman found assaulted in field taken off life support

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The family of an Albany woman found unconscious after being badly beaten and raped – has taken her off life support.

Melissa Law has been in critical condition since an off-duty officer found her barely alive in a South Jefferson Street field on Saturday, Aug. 10.

WALB spoke with the victim’s family who say the suspect had a violent history with the victim and shouldn’t have been on the streets.

Law’s family say they are heartbroken by what has taken place and the only thing giving them comfort is that police caught her attacker.

”When they found her, she was in critical condition. She was barely alive. Nobody deserves that sugar,“ Jessica Cloud, Law’s sister, said.

Photo of Melissa Law in the hospital
Photo of Melissa Law in the hospital(Source: Jessica Cloud)

She was found unconscious after being beaten and raped. According to the victim’s family, Law had an on-again-off-again relationship with her suspected attacker, Johnnie Jones.

“If I would have known, I would have been here for my sister. If I would have known that this guy was stalking her, going to her house and hitting her, I would have done something about it,” Cloud said.

Mughshot of Johnnie Jones, Law's suspected attacker.
Mughshot of Johnnie Jones, Law’s suspected attacker. (Albany Police Department)

Law’s family says that even though her suspected attacker was caught, they still have so many unanswered questions

”It’s a nightmare. When I close my eyes, that’s all I see. He didn’t have to leave my sister there to die. You didn’t have to do anything to her. Why did you kill my sister? She did not deserve this. Why didn’t you call an ambulance? Why didn’t you pick up the phone and call somebody?” Cloud said.

The family wants this story to be a cautionary tale for women in violent relationships. And they plan to donate her organs to help others. Because of her donation, Phoebe held an Honor Walk for her on Thursday.

“Another thing that gives me peace is that she’s giving her organs. She is an angel to all of us.”

The family has a GoFundMe account set up for her so they can raise money to give her a proper farewell. For more information on how to donate, click here.

Previous Coverage: Off-duty Albany officer finds woman in field after she was raped, nearly beaten to death

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