Police: Woman leapt from window to escape boyfriend who held her captive for a week
Neighbors called 9-1-1 after seeing the woman screaming for help outside the residence, before she was “dragged” back into the apartment.
A 32-year-old Quincy man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly held his girlfriend against her will for a week and attempted to kill her after she jumped from a second story window trying to escape. Matthew McAuliffe was arraigned on Thursday in Quincy District Court on charges of assault to murder, aggravated assault and battery, strangulation, assault and battery on an intimate partner, and kidnapping. The 32-year-old is being held pending a dangerousness hearing, according to authorities. Quincy police responded to a residence in the city on Wednesday after receiving a 9-1-1 call reporting that a woman was outside screaming for help, according to the department. When officers arrived, they found “all was quiet.”“They immediately began speaking with neighbors and learned that a male party had approached the female from behind, covered her mouth, and forcibly dragged her into an apartment,” police wrote in a statement.Directed to the door by the witness, officers “forced entry” into the locked apartment. Inside they found the woman and her boyfriend, later identified as McAuliffe. “Officers immediately began rendering aid to the victim who was unresponsive, lying motionless on the bed,” police said. “She had agonal breathing and red marks on her throat.”She was treated at the scene by medics and transported to Boston Medical Center. Detectives learned that the woman had been held against her will for the last week by her boyfriend. Afraid for her safety, she had jumped from a second story window to scream for help. “We want to publicly commend the neighbors for getting involved,” police said. “They did exactly what we would hope: they contacted 9-1-1 and observed from a safe location. They were able to provide us with information needed to quickly locate the victim. We truly believe their actions, coupled with the immediate actions of [the responding officers], may very well have saved this young woman’s life.”According to the Boston Herald, McAuliffe’s dangerousness hearing is scheduled for next week and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office has filed motions to revoke bail on the 32-year-old’s open OUI drug case and his open domestic case in Quincy. “If you, or a loved one, are in an abusive relationship, there are resources to help,” Quincy police wrote. “The Quincy Police Department has a domestic violence advocate that works directly with victims of domestic abuse. DOVE has a crisis hotline that is available 24/7. The staff offers a confidential, empathetic, nonjudgmental, supportive ear and a wealth of information on available resources. The telephone number is 617-471-1234. If you are in immediate danger, always call 9-1-1.”If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault or domestic violence, call the SafeLink Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-877-785-2020 TTY: 1-877-521-2601.
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