A man from Pennsylvania has been charged with severely assaulting a pregnant woman, allegedly striking her in the stomach and pushing her into a toilet during the attack, which led to her going into labor.
The incident occurred at a home in Somerset, Pennsylvania, on December 19. The state’s District Attorney’s Office released a statement about the case on December 24. Andrew Ashurst is facing multiple assault charges related to the incident.
The attack reportedly began after a verbal disagreement. Authorities claim that Ashurst pushed the woman into the toilet, causing her to hit her head, struck her in the stomach, pulled her by her hair, and hit her in the face with a cell phone.
When the woman went into labor during the attack, Ashurst allegedly refused to allow her to call for help. Police later arrived and found her with numerous bruises on her back, arms, face, and forehead.
It remains unclear what relationship the two individuals have.
District Attorney Molly Metzgar expressed her horror at the allegations, stating that as a mother, she finds it deeply troubling that anyone would put the lives of a woman and her unborn child in danger.
Ashurst is facing charges that include aggravated assault of an unborn child, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, simple assault, and harassment. He is currently being held on $50,000 bail. There is no information available regarding his legal representation or plea status.
