Cheryl Treadway, from Highlands County, Florida, faced a life-threatening situation on May 4, 2015, when her boyfriend, Ethan Nickerson, held her and her children hostage at knifepoint. Desperate, she used Pizza Hut’s app to order a small pepperoni pizza and included a chilling note: “Please send help.”

The restaurant staff immediately notified the police, who arrested Nickerson and rescued Treadway and her children. Her quick thinking and the staff’s decisive action saved lives.

Treadway’s story mirrors a chilling Super Bowl PSA about domestic violence, where a woman feigns ordering a pizza to covertly call 911. It underscores the silent cries for help many victims must make. Domestic violence affects millions yearly in the U.S., with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experiencing physical abuse by a partner.

Organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline offer vital resources, including safety planning tools to help survivors escape abusive situations. Leaving isn’t simple—it requires careful preparation and support.

Treadway’s case emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle pleas for help. Her message was heard and acted upon, proving how critical it is for everyone—police, operators, and the public—to be vigilant. In this instance, someone listened, and that made all the difference.