Police: Woman Brutally Assaulted by Lafayette Hill Man

A 43-year-old Lafayette Hill man is behind bars and facing felony assault charges after police believe he viciously attacked a woman.

The victim told police that John Henry O'Donnell III, 43, entered her Whitemarsh home on Sep. 7 at just before 10 p.m. and began to repeatedly strike her in the face with his fist. O'Donnell then pushed her down a flight of stairs from the kitchen to the basement, before descending the flight of stairs himself and kicking her repeatedly, the victim told police.

After O'Donnell fled the residence, the victim's children, who were home at the time but did not witness the alleged assault, texted pictures and a description of what occurred to another family member, who called police.

Police say that when they arrived, the victim was extremely upset and had visible injuries to her face, arm, hand and knee. Police say the victim told them she feared for her life and the safety of her children, claiming that O'Donnell had assaulted her in the past and threatened to kill her.

The victim and her children were transported to a family member's house for safety. According to a Whitemarsh Police officer, O'Donnell turned himself in to authorities at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 12.

Court records show that O'Donnell was arraigned before magisterial district justice Harold Borek and was charged with felony aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. He was transported to county prison in lieu of $25,000 bail and is next scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sep. 21 at 9:30 a.m.

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