Suspect accused of choking, punching pregnant girlfriend
Kevin M. Herzog, 16, Marion, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree homicide of an unborn child, felony strangulation, false imprisonment and victim intimidation.
Shortly after noon on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Marion police were dispatched to an apartment on Hillcrest Drive.
Officer Eric Krause met with a 17-year-old woman who is 20 weeks pregnant. She said she was Herzog’s girlfriend.
The victim said Herzog became angry when she tried to move out after reading a text on Herzog’s phone that seemed to be about marijuana.
According to the criminal complaint, when she confronted him about the message and started to pack her things, Herzog shoved her into the bedroom and said she was not going anywhere.
He allegedly made her remove her shoes so she could not leave.
The girlfriend told police he took her cellphone, pinned her to the floor, placed his forearm across her throat and said, “Beg for your life.”
She said she thought she was going to die.
During the altercation, Herzog punched her in the stomach, the complaint says.
The woman later escaped and went to her relatives’ home across the street, where the police were called.
Police took her to the hospital to check on the well-being of the unborn child.
Herzog was arrested and remains in custody on a $100,000 cash bond.
He denied choking his girlfriend and said he sometimes experiences black outs and doesn’t remember what happened.
Due to the serious nature of the charges, Herzog is charged as an adult.
On Dec. 3, 2019, officers arrested Herzog for an aggravated battery of the same victim.