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Provo woman fears ex-husband will kill her, says criminal justice system has failed

Posted at 9:46 PM, Jun 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-16 23:46:50-04

PROVO, Utah -- A Provo woman is living in fear because she believes when her ex-husband gets out of jail, he will kill her. She said the criminal justice system has failed her.

"I can't tell you how many times he's told me that he wants to kill me, and he's told me how he's going to kill me, and how long I'll have to suffer," Heather Wolsey said.

Wolsey said her wedding day was one of the last times she felt safe. She said for the past 20 years she has been in a physically abusive relationship with her now ex-husband, Ronald Wayne Wolsey.

"I had a protective order in 2012, it was issued in the state of New York, I then moved out here, when he was released from jail there he followed me out here, and honestly I don't know how many times he's broken it," Heather Wolsey said.

Despite piles of domestic violence charges against him, Heather said her ex-husband has never spent more than six consecutive months in jail, and, every time he gets out, he goes after her.

"I just don't feel like I'm being heard, and that terrifies me," Wolsey said. "And I want him to leave me alone and he's not."

Raymond Wolsey is currently in the Utah County Jail, after pleading guilty last month to violating a protective order and stalking, which are both felonies.

According to the prosecutor in the case, after you count time served, he could be released as early as his sentencing date on July 14.

"I fear retribution, I feel that he is going to kill me," said Heather Wolsey. "I never would have pressed these charges, I never would have done that, why would I want to piss off my abuser, why would I want to make the freakin' devil angry?"

The Provo Police Department's Victim Assistants program tries to help and protect people like Heather every day.

"She has consistently told me that she is afraid for her life," said Victims' Advocate, Mary Ellis. "Unfortunately, her story is not uncommon. They're very frustrated, they are very upset, and they are all very concerned about their safety."

The Provo Police Department offers a victim assistant line for anyone who is in need of support: 801-852-6375.

"We try to do everything we can to assure them that we will keep working on their case, that we are here to support them," Ellis said.

FOX 13 reached out to Raymond Wayne Wolsey's public defender, but she did not return our calls.