A 37-year-old Belleville man has been charged in Marion County Court with home invasion, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated domestic battery, and domestic battery to a Centralia woman.
DeAndre Brown was ordered without bond during his first appearance in Marion County Court Wednesday afternoon due to the violent nature of the case.
The series of events began about 2:30 Tuesday morning when the victim’s ex-boyfriend after at her home and began pounding on the door. After the door was opened, Brown reportedly pushed his way inside and several hours of physical assault followed, including strangulation to the point of losing consciousness, repeatedly slamming her head onto a wooden floor, and punching her in the face multiple times. The victim said Brown also made multiple threats to kill her.
Brown drove the woman to her place of employment to allow her to sign out of work for the day. Due to her facial injuries and her comment that her ex-boyfriend had her phone, they called police. Police went to the woman’s home, and no one was there. At the same time, Brown was driving up to home and left after seeing the police activity.
The two then allegedly drove to East St. Louis where the suspect continued to make violent threats, including threatening to place a gun in her mouth. On the return trip to Centralia, Brown reportedly said he would return her phone so she could call family to say goodbye because he intended to kill her.
Police were able to locate the vehicle during a traffic stop in Centralia as they returned to town before further harm occurred. Brown was taken into custody without incident, and the victim was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia and later transferred to a St. Louis hospital for treatment of head and neck injuries. She was later released.
A preliminary hearing has been set for December 9th. A public defender was appointed to represent him.
