Suspect charged in brutal assault
CONNELLSVILLE – A Connellsville Township woman is in the hospital with multiple injuries after she was allegedly brutally beaten and raped over a six-hour period Wednesday by her former boyfriend. The alleged ax handle beating was so malicious that state police said William A. McLaughlin broke the woman’s tibia and fibula in her left leg and the ulna in her left arm along with causing the collapse of her right lung, a laceration on the back of her head and various contusions and swelling all over her body.
The victim was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to a Pittsburgh health care facility for additional treatment.
Investigating officer, Trooper George Mrosko said the woman remains in stable condition.
The Herald-Standard does not identify rape victims.
McLaughlin, 45, of 212 N. Jefferson St., was arraigned on single first-degree felony counts of aggravated assault, rape and criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide and a single second-degree felony count of aggravated assault Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Ronald J. Haggerty Sr.
As Haggerty read the lengthy narrative of the criminal complaint, the handcuffed and shackled McLaughlin shook his head.
“Yeah, there was an argument; but (the details provided by the victim to police) is a bunch of fictitious crap,” he said as he was being led to the police vehicle after the arraignment hearing.
According to police, the two were involved in a verbal argument at her North Jefferson Street home, when McLaughlin allegedly got angry and struck her several times.
He then allegedly grabbed the ax handle that had been left in the residence by a previous tenant and struck the victim several times in the head, arms, legs and torso.
Police said McLaughlin then allegedly began to taunt the woman, asking her how she wanted to be killed.
“He asked her how she wanted it (or) if she wanted to be awake or asleep when he killed her,” said police. “He asked her if she wanted to see it coming or for it to be a surprise.”
After striking her again with the ax handle, police said McLaughlin asked the victim, “You know you’re dying tonight, don’t you?”
According to the criminal complaint, the incident began at 6 p.m. and continued to nearly midnight.
Police said the victim allegedly recalled begging with McLaughlin to stop, but was told if she did not stop the pleading she would no longer have the choice of when she would die.
During the incident, McLaughlin allegedly removed the victim’s shorts and raped her before again beating her with the ax handle.
While McLaughlin was in another room in the house the woman allegedly tried to flee, but was caught before she was able to reach the end of the porch, said police.
According to the criminal complaint, McLaughlin allegedly hit her from behind and she fell to the ground.
After allegedly punching her several times, he grabbed her by the hair and hit her head into the ground before dragging her back into the house, said police.
The alleged beating ended when the telephone rang and McLaughlin told her to answer it.
Afterwards, McLaughlin put on his shoes and left the residence, allegedly telling the victim, “this ain’t over.”
McLaughlin was later apprehended by state police in a shed on the property at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
Mrosko said that the ax handle was recovered at the scene and that hair was stuck to the end of it.
During the arraignment hearing, it was revealed that McLaughlin has been convicted of multiple crimes, including robbery, burglary, firearms violation and others. The crimes were committed in four other states, Mrosko told Haggerty.
McLaughlin is currently on parole for the crimes committed outside Pennsylvania.
Haggerty set a $250,000 straight cash bond and scheduled a May 31 preliminary hearing in the matter.