Victim Beaten & Burned Repeatedly
A 31-year-old Brooklyn man has been indicted for allegedly kidnapping and brutally torturing his girlfriend inside a Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment, keeping her captive for over a month, law enforcement sources said.
Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes identified the suspect as Anthony Matthews, who was indicted last Wednesday, Aug. 8, on 18 counts including first- and seconddegree kidnapping, second-degree attempted murder, first-, second- and third-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon.
Matthews faces life in prison if convicted.
According to the indictment, Matthews took the 26-year-old female victim from her father’s home in upstate Peekskill on June 29 and drove her to his cousin’s apartment on Bainbridge Street in Bedford- Stuyvesant, where she was held for over 30 days.
During her captivity, prosecutors said, Matthews allegedly shoved a gun in her mouth, breaking her teeth, burning her legs with a clothing iron and her genitals with a heated screwdriver. He also allegedly assaulted her with wooden planks, one of which had protruding nails.
Reportedly, he kept her bound with various restraints including extension cords and electronic charger cords.
On July 30, Matthews allegedly drove his ex-girlfriend to his mother’s apartment on Lafayette Street and left her on the doorstep. Matthews’ mother found the victim and called 911 for assistance.
The woman was transported by paramedics to Woodhull Hospital Center, where she remains under treatment for her injuries, which included severe septic shock, losing more than half of her blood, spinal damage, a lacerated liver, fractured ribs, a broken nose, multiple burns, and swelling about her face and body.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Josh Charlton of the D.A.’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Wanda Lucibello, chief of the Special Victims Division, and Deirdre Bialo- Padin, chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau.
It was noted that the indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
