Pregnant woman ‘brutally beaten and kicked in stomach by boyfriend in horrific bid to kill their unborn baby’
A PREGNANT woman was allegedly beaten and kicked in the stomach by her boyfriend in a horrific bid to kill the couple’s unborn baby.
Ally Stephens, 19, from Oklahoma, said she was attacked twice by 21-year-old Gage Ford, the second time after he posted bail following an initial arrest.
Stephens first attended a police station in Norman city to report an incident of abuse on October 1.
She told investigators that Ford had choked her, repeatedly kicked her in the stomach, and told her to “get rid of it”, meaning the couple’s baby.
Stephens is four months pregnant.
Ford was arraigned and, despite a request by the Cleveland County district attorney’s office that bond be set at $30,000, Judge Scott Brockman issued a bond of $1,500.
Police say that Gage then attacked Stephens again on October 17, this time leaving her with injuries so severe she had to attend hospital.
District Attorney Greg Mashburn has criticised Judge Brockman for not setting Ford’s bond higher, and said reports submitted by police had already indicated that Gage had threatened to kill Stephens.
“We have a victim who is beaten unrecognizable, and this didn’t have to happen,” Mashburn said.
“We get in front of these judges, we ask them to listen to our victims and listen to us, and our judgement.
“I have to do something for the victims, and I have to be able to tell them that I tried.
“I just can’t say, ‘Oh well the judge just decided not to do that’, when I see a pattern that puts people at risk.”
He added that Judge Brockman had issued low bonds and lowered suspects’ bonds in the past.
“What he has stated in open court is that he doesn’t believe people should be held on bond prior to being convicted,” said Mashburn.
Ford turned himself in on October 23 following a hunt by US Marshals and was arrested.
He has now been charged with domestic assault and battery by strangulation as well as domestic abuse with a prior pattern of physical abuse, knews reported.
His bond has been set at $250,000.
Stephens is now recovering and has been sharing her story to encourage other victims of domestic abuse to come forward.
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Speaking to News 9, she said: “You can’t save them. Don’t ever ignore the signs.
“There is always help out there that you can go to. You can call anyone, and they will help you. And stay strong.”
