Man drove into tree after beating girlfriend, charges say

Man drove into tree after beating girlfriend, charges say

(Salt Lake County Bookings)


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MURRAY — A man who prosecutors say threatened to kill his girlfriend by driving his car into a house was charged Thursday with severely beating the woman and driving into a tree.

Goldie Rashean Pledger, 26, of Murray, was charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; two counts of aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony; two counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, class B misdemeanors.

Bail for Pledger was set at $250,000.

On Sunday, Pledger hit his live-in girlfriend in the back of the head, kicked her in the ribs while she was on the ground, strangled her until she lost consciousness twice and possibly dislocated her shoulder, according to charging documents.

Pledger eventually agreed to take the woman to the hospital, but on the drive there hit her in the face and threatened to "crash the van into a house and kill her," the charges state.

The woman attempted to jump out of the vehicle, but Pledger held her and then accelerated his van until it crashed into a tree, according to police. After the crash, the woman got out of the van and ran to a nearby house for help.

Pledger told officers he lost control of the van while trying to prevent his girlfriend from jumping out, charging documents state. But police noted there weren't any skid marks that would suggest attempts to brake before hitting the tree.

Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting YWCA, Women in Jeopardy, 801-537-8600 or the Domestic Violence Hotline, 801-897-LINK.

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Pat Reavy

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