Transcript for Family Mounts Rescue Mission to Help Police Find Kidnapped Woman

Next tonight the story of a family leaping into action. A woman was kidnapped, missing for two days in louisiana. Relatives were afraid the police search was taking too long. Time was running out. So they mounted a rescue mission onir own. Abc's steve osunsami tells us what happened next. Reporter: This was the moment of relief when the family of 29-year-old bethany arceneaux found and rescued her from a violent ex-boyfriend who was holding her hostage. He was about to kill her. He wasn't going to stick around and wait for it to happen. Reporter: She had been missing for days of the the police search was getting nowhere so they searched too. Her aunts and sisters posted fliers with her photo. Her brothers and cousins got their guns and searched the woods. They were checking out this abandoned home in louisiana when they heard her scream. He told her as soon as they kick the door in I'm going to kill you. Reporter: They say scott thomas started stabbing her when they broke in and then one of them shot him dead. Police had their guns drawn in this vacant house on anderson road. Reporter: By the time police arrived it was over. For now even the district attorney says he won't charge the family. In this case they saved the girl from dying and unfortunately the assailant died. Reporter: Like so many abused women arceneaux kept filing police reports and she kept getting released on bond. In june she filed for this restraining order saying he choked me until the point i couldn't breathe. These orders of protection are often no stronger than the paper they're written on. At least half areiolated by the same people they're meant to stop. The arceneauxs say they did what they had to do. Steve osunsami, abc news, atlanta.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.