A Monroeville man was found guilty but mentally ill Wednesday in connection with the assault and kidnapping of a woman last summer.
Calvin McDonald, 31, of Monroeville, was found guilty but mentally ill of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, kidnapping for ransom, unlawful restraint with serious bodily injury, recklessly endangering another person and false imprisonment.
A jury at the Allegheny County Courthouse acquitted McDonald of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of children and criminal attempted homicide.
The crime occurred on June 17, 2016. The woman told a detective that she and McDonald had been arguing. When he saw she was leaving with the girls, ages 3 and 1, McDonald unplugged the garage door opener and took the girls out of a minivan, according to the complaint. He then choked her as she was holding the younger girl, until she fell and passed out.
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McDonald then bound her hands, legs and mouth with duct tape and rope, dragged her to the minivan and put her in the rear cargo area, where he covered her with clothes and boxes, according to the complaint. He put the girls in the minivan and then began to drive.
The compliant said McDonald eventually pulled over and spoke to the woman, and she persuaded him to unbind her and let her sit in the passenger seat, according to the complaint. He told her “that there was no turning back” and that he had “snapped” and done something similar to his ex-wife.
They eventually returned to the home around 5:30 p.m., and the woman began watching out a window for an opportunity to ask someone to call police. She got the attention of a neighbor about an hour later, according to the complaint.
The defense blamed McDonald's actions on his childhood, during which he was severely abused. His defense attorney told jurors that, at the time of the incident, McDonald had a flashback to memories of being denied food, being tied to a bed and being beaten for hours at a time.
After the verdict Wednesday, McDonald was remanded to the Allegheny County Jail. A sentencing date was not immediately set.
Stay with Channel 11 News for continuing coverage.
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