UPDATE: Woman hospitalized with “life-threatening” injuries after ex allegedly attacks her with hatchet
A man is awaiting arraignment on attempted homicide and other charges after state police said he attacked his ex-fiancee with a hatchet this morning at the woman's house on the 600 block of Bonniebrook Road in Summit Township.
The woman, believed to be in her 20s or 30s, is at a Pittsburgh hospital, where she was to undergo surgery this afternoon. Police said she suffered a “significant head wound.” Investigators described her injuries as “life threatening.”
Dean J. Law, 29, of Apollo, Armstrong County has been arraigned on felony charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated with a deadly weapon and trespass and a misdemeanor charge of false identification to law enforcement authorities.
Law entered the woman's home, which is on a farm, while she was sleeping, investigators said. Police declined to say where in the house she was allegedly assaulted.
The woman's father called 911 around 6:40 a.m. to report the attack.She also lives at the home with her stepmother and multiple siblings, police said. None of the other family members witnessed the alleged assault.Police said the suspect fled the house after the incident. Troopers searched the area and later found Law in a vehicle in a field on the property. He was taken into custody without incident, investigators said, but they noted he had “multiple weapons” in the vehicle.The suspect and victim had recently broken up, investigators said, but they declined to comment further about the relationship. They noted, however, that he was not permitted on the property.East Butler Ambulance tended to the woman before she was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital, where a medical helicopter flew her to Allegheny General Hospital.Law is being held in the Butler County Prison without bail.<i>This is a breaking news report — pick up Wednesday's Butler Eagle or subscribe online to read the full article.</oi>
