‘She should be fine’: Tennessee woman secures protective order against ex. Then he allegedly brings out a hammer after cops bring her home
A Tennessee woman was seriously injured in an alleged attack by her former boyfriend shortly after seeking police protection. Authorities have since arrested the suspect, who reportedly fled the state following the incident.
According to Law&Crime, Bailey Perger was allegedly beaten with a hammer by her ex-boyfriend, Ross Peterson, 38, at her Nashville home on October 17, 2026. Police found her in the backyard with extensive injuries to her head and face. Officers had helped her obtain a protective order earlier that morning.
The alleged assault followed reports of threatening messages and an earlier confrontation at her residence. Additional accounts from Bailey’s family have provided details about their relationship and what reportedly happened before the attack.
The trouble had started hours earlier
According to the report, Bailey and Peterson had briefly dated before she ended the relationship. Jaden Mills, a relative who lived at the property, said Peterson arrived at the home early that Saturday and allegedly made threats. “He was acting incredibly erratically and insinuating violence the whole time,” Mills told NewsChannel 5.
Police said Bailey had reported receiving multiple threatening text messages from Peterson. He also allegedly appeared at her doorstep, where they argued. Officers responded and assisted her in obtaining an order of protection and a harassment warrant. The harassment warrant was issued around 6:15 a.m.
Officers subsequently drove Bailey home. Her father, Jeremy Perger, said he believed she would be safe after obtaining the protective order. “Unfortunately, I told her she should be fine going back home,” he told WZTV.
Jeremy said Peterson was outside slashing Bailey’s tires approximately 30 minutes after she returned home. According to investigators, Bailey heard knocking and looked outside, where she reportedly saw Peterson damaging her vehicle. She went outside to confront him.
Mills provided additional details about the confrontation, describing audio captured by a Ring security camera. Peterson allegedly threatened Bailey over her decision to contact police. “If you go to the [expletive] cops for no legitimate reason when I’ve never been threatening before to you … Guess what? I’m going to [expletive] you up before the cops get here.”
The reported statement suggests Peterson was angry about police involvement, although investigators have not publicly established a definitive motive for the assault. Mills said he believed Peterson initially choked Bailey before using a hammer. Police responded around 7:15 a.m. and discovered her lying in the backyard with extensive facial and head injuries. Investigators recovered a hammer from the ground and collected it as evidence.
Peterson also allegedly took Bailey’s cellphone during the incident. Police subsequently obtained warrants charging him with aggravated assault, harassment, and theft of property. Bailey’s mother later reported on Facebook that her daughter had undergone facial surgery and faced a lengthy recovery. Before the procedure, she wrote, “Please continue to pray for my girl who will go into surgery today to repair what this MONSTER did to her.”
Authorities initially could not locate Peterson. On October 21, police confirmed his arrest in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was expected to be returned to Nashville to face the outstanding charges.
Police also disclosed that Peterson was on probation for a felony methamphetamine possession conviction in Williamson County when the alleged assault occurred. His reported criminal history does not establish a motive for the attack. Jeremy expressed his wish for a lengthy prison sentence. “I want him to go away for a long time,” he said. Peterson’s plea and any subsequent court proceedings were not established in the available reports.
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