Husband Cages Wife

Submitted by WDEF News 12 and CNN on April 15, 2008 - 9:27am.

An Ohio man is accused of handcuffing his wife inside a dog cage after they were married in Las Vegas.

Police say the woman escaped after days of the mistreatment.

Pete Kenworthy has the details.

"He had her handcuffed inside of the cage, would hold her against her will inside the cage for 2 - 4 hours at a time, release her from the cage, re-handcuff her outside the cage, let 2 dogs inside the cage and crate the dogs."

HERE ON 19TH STREET NORTHWEST, NEIGHBORS SAY THAT MATTHEW GEORGE AND MARY SWIHART FOUGHT OFTEN - YELLING OBSCENITIES AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT - MANY TIMES OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY.

CANTON POLICE SAY THAT ON SATURDAY, GEORGE FIRED GUNSHOTS BOTH INTO THE FLOOR AND AT MARY AFTER FOUR DAYS OF MISTREATING HER.

"At some point in time, she convinced him to un-handcuff her so she could use the restroom, at that time, she chose to run out of the house, she began screaming. We believe he fired one more round from his handgun into her direction, there were shell casings all over the house."

GEORGE HAS A HISTORY OF BOTH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DRUG CHARGES... HE AND MARY ALSO HAVE A 20-MONTH OLD SON - WHO WAS HOME AT THE TIME WHEN A GUN WAS FIRED AND HIS MOTHER WAS LOCKED IN A CAGE.

"All these domestic situations are violent but in a case where a female is kept captive in a dog crate, this is the first in my experience."

Police say they tracked down the husband hours later in Springfield.

He had taken several pills and is currently in the hospital.

Once released, he'll be charged with abduction, child endangerment, assault and domestic violence.

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