‘I’m sorry, but I can’t let you have my son’: Florida man ‘beats, rapes and tells 19-weeks pregnant girlfriend to slit her wrists in an effort to kill their unborn baby’
- Joseph Bernard J. Combs, 20, faces multiple charges including attempted murder, sexual battery and aggravated assault and kidnapping
- He allegedly beat, raped and used a knife to threaten his pregnant girlfriend
- Police said Combs attacked the woman in an attempt to kill their unborn baby
- Before allegedly raping her, Combs was said to have told her to slit her wrists
Joseph Bernard J. Combs, 20, faces multiple charges after allegedly beating, raping and threatening his pregnant with a knife in an effort to kill their unborn child
A Florida man faces multiple charges after allegedly beating, raping and using a knife to threaten his pregnant girlfriend in an attempt to kill their baby.
Joseph Bernard J. Combs, 20, of Gainesville, Florida, was arrested Friday on charges of attempted murder, sexual battery, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and kidnapping, according to his arrest affidavit, which was obtained by the Gainsville Sun.
Police said the incident started when Combs went to the his 19-weeks’ pregnant girlfriend’s home early Friday morning.
The woman, who had been dating Combs for about a year, was on the phone when he arrived.
Police said that Combs waited for her to hang up the phone before telling her that ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t let you have my son.’
Combs then allegedly grabbed the woman by her hair and dragged her to the living room, where he punched her and kicked her in the stomach multiple times. He was said to have then pulled her – again by her hair – upstairs, where he continued to punch and kick her in the belly.
Police said that the woman attempted to run back downstairs, but that Combs caught her and started to punch and slap her in the head.
Combs is being held on $3.5million bail at the Alachua County Jail (pictured) in Florida
When he saw that the woman was bleeding from a small cut on her head, Combs allegedly tried to wipe up the blood with napkins, before beating her again, while saying ‘I’m sorry, but I have to kill the baby.’
Then, Combs was said to have held a four-inch folding knife to the woman’s throat, at which point the woman reportedly said: ‘I’ll do anything, but don’t take my life.’
According to police, Combs told the woman to ‘do it to yourself,’ ordering her to slit her wrists – specifying that she cut vertically, instead of horizontally ‘for results,’ according to WCJB.
When the pregnant and battered woman made a move to comply, he allegedly told her to stop and then raped her.
When police arrived at the scene, they said the woman had extensive bruising on her stomach, as well as bruising on both arms, her shins and her right breast. She also had a swollen jaw and a bloody eye.
It’s unclear how the incident ended or what the status of the baby is.
Combs was booked into Alachua County Jail early Saturday morning. He is being held on $3.5million bail.