A harrowing stretch of roughly 24 hours inside a Whittemore home ended with a felony arrest, according to Michigan State Police, after a woman was allegedly held and beaten so badly she suffered a broken orbital bone and a broken nose.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police West Branch post were called to the home last Tuesday for a reported domestic assault. Investigators say the woman had told a neighbor her boyfriend had been physically assaulting her for about a day. When troopers arrived, they reported the 34-year-old suspect pulled the woman back into the residence and then refused to answer the door.
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of her serious facial injuries. The suspect was arrested on a charge of assault with intent to cause great bodily harm, less than murder and lodged in the Iosco County Jail, as reported by MLive.
What the charge carries
Under Michigan law, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder is a felony that can carry up to 10 years in prison and a fine, according to Justia. Prosecutors often look for evidence of severe or sustained injuries, including broken bones or documented head trauma, when deciding whether to seek that level of charge.
Help and next steps
Officials did not immediately release the suspect’s name or a scheduled court date in the initial report.
If you or someone you know is in danger, confidential help is available 24/7. The VOICES4 line and the statewide domestic violence helpline offer support at 1-855-864-2374 (VOICES4) or 1-866-864-2338 for the domestic violence line, per VOICES4.
