Prosecutors in Hamilton County say a violent two-day ordeal in Cincinnati ended with a woman escaping her boyfriend and landing in the hospital, and her alleged attacker behind bars. Court filings state that Adumu Williams assaulted his girlfriend over the course of two days, strangling her until she lost consciousness, then later forcing her into a car at gunpoint before she managed to get away and seek medical care. Williams has since been arrested and is now facing a long list of felony and misdemeanor charges.
According to WKRC, Hamilton County Municipal Court documents state the violence began on Tuesday, when Williams allegedly punched the woman "several times," leaving bruises on her eyes and ribs, and hit her with his pistol. The complaint says he then pushed her onto a couch and strangled her until she lost consciousness, and that she did not wake up until 8 a.m. the next morning. On Wednesday, the filings allege, Williams kidnapped her at gunpoint, restrained her in his vehicle, and "drove her around with his gun in his lap looking for a place to shoot and kill the victim" before she was able to escape and later speak with authorities at the hospital. Court records list charges that include two counts of felonious assault, three counts of kidnapping, domestic violence, strangulation, aggravated menacing, unlawful restraint, tampering with evidence, three counts of drug trafficking, obstructing official business, resisting arrest, and failure to comply with an officer.
How Ohio law treats strangulation
Ohio now treats strangulation as a felony offense, with the severity tied to the level of harm and the relationship between the people involved. ORC 2903.18 defines the crime of strangulation and sets penalties that range from fifth-degree to second-degree felonies. A report from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network outlines how strangulation can cause hypoxic brain injury, sharply increase the risk of later lethal violence, and make it harder for survivors to participate in prosecutions. Those findings helped drive Ohio's 2023 decision to criminalize strangulation as a felony.
Next steps in court
Williams remains in custody as the case proceeds in Hamilton County Municipal Court and prosecutors continue to review the filings. Public court dockets and booking records can be accessed through the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, where information such as arraignment dates, bond, and custody status is typically posted. A review of those official sites did not, at the time of publication, show an independent police press release with additional details.
As of publication, the most detailed public account comes from court documents summarized by WKRC, and this story will be updated as new court records or official statements are released. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑SAFE (7233) or visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
