Washington County man accused of holding wife against her will for at least 12 days

WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Washington County man is facing charges after his wife accused him of holding her against her will in their West Finley Township home for at least 12 days, authorities said.

Police said Kevin Ewing allegedly began holding his wife after seeing text messages on her phone that upset him.

Authorities said Ewing pistol-whipped his wife in the forehead with his gun, causing blood to gush out, and hit her in the knees with a hammer. He then restrained her with zip ties and duct tape, branded her on the legs with a hotdog skewer, spit in her face and made her sleep with a cord around her neck, police said.

The alleged abuse finally ended when his wife walked in to the Chrome Federal Credit Union on Racetrack Road in Washington on July 8 and asked the teller to call 911.

The first officer called to the credit union testified in court Tuesday that he forced Ewing out of his pick-up truck, which he was sitting in outside the credit union, and onto the ground. Ewing’s wife, meanwhile, remained inside the credit union, which she refused to leave, saying, “He’s going to get me. I don’t want to die,” the officer said.

Ewing’s defense attorneys said his client’s wife told a different story to hospital personnel.

“She gave a completely different story at the hospital at another date,” Ewing’s defense attorney Ben Goodwin said.

Ewing’s defense attorneys said during the 12 days of alleged captivity, the couple went to Canonsburg Hospital, where Ewing’s wife was treated for a concussion and got four staples in her head.

“The victim’s story at the hospital was there was a quad accident and none of that came to light today,” Ewing’s defense attorney Amanda Coma said.

“When you got to a hospital, they separate the parties and ask questions: Are you in danger? Are you in fear of your life? And she answered no to all of these things,” Goodwin said.

Prosecutors argued that she was simply afraid for her life like many other women in abusive relationships.

“And in this case, this was horrible what this victim went through,” Assistant Washington County District Attorney Kristin Clingerman said.

Ewing faces numerous charges, including kidnapping, aggravated assault, person not to possess firearms, firearms not to be carried without a license, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and recklessly endangering another person. All were held for court on Tuesday.

Cox Media Group