OREM, Utah, Oct. 9, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials are working to identify a man who they say broke into an Orem home late Sunday evening and beat a 34-year-old mother unconscious with a PVC pipe while her three children were in their bedrooms nearby.
The suspect also hit the woman’s 4-year-old daughter with the pipe, Orem Police Department Lt. Craig Martinez told Gephardt Daily. Officers found the child with blood on her face, red marks and swelling.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, aggravated burglary, child abuse, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, and failure to disclose his identification, Martinez said.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. in a residence near 600 N. 400 West.
“The suspect broke into the home by breaking a basement window,” Martinez said. “This woke up the mother, and she was confronted by the suspect, who assaulted her until she went unconscious. When she came to, she ran to a neighbor’s home and called us.”
When police arrived, they were able to get three children, the 4-year-old girl, a 1-year old baby boy, and 7-year-old girl, out of the home safely.
“We found the suspect a few blocks away, lying in the street, and took him into custody,” Martinez said. “As of now, we haven’t been able to identify the suspect, as he is being uncooperative with jail staff. They will be checking his prints as soon as they are able to.”
The mother and the injured child were treated for their injuries at the hospital. The mother remains hospitalized in fair condition. Both victims are expected to fully recover.
As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, the suspect had still not been identified, and was resisting giving jail staff his fingerprints.
Gephardt Daily will update this story as more information becomes available and the identity of the man is confirmed.
