Kidnap charges filed after woman hit with hammer

By James Beaty
Senior Editor

June 01, 2009 11:09 am

— A McAlester man remained in the Pittsburg County Jail today in lieu of $500,000 bond in connection with four felony charges, including kidnapping.
Horace Marque Spencer, 33, of McAlester, is accused of holding Beth Ann Summers, 33, captive at the residence where they lived on East Seminole Avenue, said McAlester Police Det. Capt. Don Hass.
Spencer is also accused of holding a knife to Summers’ throat, choking her and hitting her in the arm and leg with a hammer, Hass said.
Spencer has been charged with felony counts of kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic assault and battery by strangulation.
McAlester police became involved in the case when medical personnel called police to the emergency room at the McAlester Regional Health Center on Thursday night, Hass said. A nurse told Patrolman Chuck Sutterfield that Summers had a gash on her arm believed to be caused by a blow from a hammer, he said.
Police were told that Spencer had allegedly been holding Summers captive against her will at the residence on East Seminole Avenue, according to Hass. A probable cause affidavit filed in the case alleges that Spencer would only let Summers go into the bedroom and bathroom of the residence.
When police went to the residence on East Seminole seeking Spencer, no one was home, Hass said.
Later, around 11 p.m., police went to another house on the 600 block of East Courts looking for Spencer, Hass said.
Officers Chris Troussel Danny Kelley went inside the residence, where they found Spencer hiding in a bath tub, Hass said. The officers then arrested Spencer and transported him to the jail.
During an initial appearance in Pittsburg County District Court, Special District Judge Donnita Wynn set bond at a half-million dollars and scheduled a preliminary hearing conference for Friday.
Spencer faces a maximum penalty of from 20 years to life in prison if convicted on the charges of kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon.
He faces a possible sentence of from three years to life in prison if convicted of domestic assault and battery by strangulation.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.