Saturday, August 2, 2008

Police - Merrillville, IN man rapes, kidnaps, tortures girlfriend during 8 hour ordeal

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A man attacked his girlfriend with a hatchet, struck her with a car when she tried to flee and then raped her during an eight-hour ordeal, police said.

Marlon Dandre Stringfellow, 40, of Merrillville was being held without bond Wednesday night in Lake County Jail on charges of attempted murder, rape, criminal confinement, battery, intimidation and sexual battery.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman left the home she shared with Stringfellow Monday night after he became agitated and when she returned, he ordered her out of her car and began hitting her. He then told her to get back into the car and drove to a church, where he ordered her to remove her clothes.

The woman got out of the car and complied, but Stringfellow allegedly took a hatchet from the car and struck her on the arms and legs. He then forced her back into the car and began driving, threatening her life. The woman fled when Stringfellow stopped for a red light near a gas station, but Stringfellow allegedly hit her with the car while she was running, breaking four of her ribs, said Merrillville police Detective George Fields.

After dragging the woman back to the car, Stringfellow drove her home and raped her, Fields said.Fields said the ordeal began about 11:30 p.m. and ended shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday.After Stringfellow fell asleep, the woman got help and she was taken to a hospital for treatment where she received 50 stitches for her wounds, according to the affidavit.Stringfellow could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted.

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