A woman faked her own death in order to escape her abusive ex-boyfriend, according to police.
On Saturday shortly before 6:30 a.m. police responded to a home on the 800 block of Radclyffe Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for a report of a woman experiencing a seizure and not breathing.
When police arrived they found the man who called them, 25-year-old Bartholomew Palumbo, as well as his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend who was badly injured.
The woman, who managed to crawl up the stairs when police arrived, told investigators Palumbo assaulted her by choking her, slamming her to the floor, punching her in the face and throwing her down the basement steps. The woman said she then faked her own death by acting out seizures.
Believing he had killed her, Palumbo went upstairs, called 911 and claimed his ex-girlfriend had suffered a seizure, according to investigators.
Investigators later determined the woman’s story was true. Palumbo was taken into custody and detectives confirmed the assault. He is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned and lodged in Northampton County Prison on $100,000 bail.
Palumbo's attorney information was not immediately available.
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
The woman was taken to St. Luke’s University Hospital where she is currently in critical condition.
