WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A new Pennsylvania law aimed at helping women who are victims of domestic violence makes strangulation a felony offense.
The law was passed four months ago, and assistant district attorney Kristin Clingerman is making sure all police departments in Washington County know about it.
“Oftentimes, they’ll tell you, ‘I thought I was going to die,’” Clingerman said. “A person who strangles over and over again is essentially practicing homicide.”
On Tuesday, Washington County’s police chiefs gathered to learn about the law. Clingerman taught a class, which she recently held for Monongahela police.
Over the weekend, police in Monongahela recognized the signs of abuse they had learned about and arrested William Paff.
“He readily admitted to knocking the victim to the floor, getting on top of her with both knees, both arms and placed both hands around her throat,” police Chief Brian Tempest said.
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Paff’s wife told police that her husband appeared calm while he choked her. He also hit her with an ice scraper, according to a criminal complaint.
“Nobody wouldn't condemn me for doing this to you. I'll bash your head 1 million times until nobody will be able to even recognize you,” she told police her husband said.
She also expressed to police concerns for her safety.
“I'm afraid to go back home. I know he will eventually kill me. I know he hates me to death,” she said.
Moving forward, Clingerman wants victims to feel confident in coming forward to authorities.
“Sometimes people don’t take it seriously,” Clingerman said. “They call it choking. Choking is when you swallow your food wrong and you have to cough it up.”
If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available: