WEST ASHLEY, SC (WCSC) - Investigators say a 31-year-old man beat and raped his pregnant girlfriend and then made her write a letter absolving him of her possible murder.

The Charleston Police Department charged Lucas Edwin of West Ashley with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.

Police responded to an apartment on Etiwan Avenue early Thursday morning in reference to a dispute. Officers met with Edwin who said that he and the victim, who is 3 months pregnant, were having a fight. Police say they could detect alcohol coming from Edwin who remained silent after authorities asked him to elaborate on the fight.

An officer then met with the 23-year-old victim, who police say had apparent bruises to her face and a small cut to her lip. The victim said that Edwin had been physically assaulting her since late Wednesday night when he arrived home.

She said that when Edwin came home, she made him a plate of food which he did not like and threw the plate at the victim, striking her in the leg. Edwin then told the victim, "(Expletive) clean it up."

According to the victim, Edwin then sexually assaulted her while she was in the bathroom. The victim said he then struck her several times with his fist in her stomach. The victim told police that the force of the impact knocked her down and she began to bleed on the floor.

A police report states that Edwin then picked the victim up by her hair and began to strike her in the face. The suspect then began to choke her by placing her in a head lock until she blacked out, police say.

Investigators say Edwin then forced the victim to write a letter that stated she was having problems with another man. According to the victim, Edwin was going to kill her and told her to write the letter so he would not be implicated in her death.

The victim then left the apartment when Edwin fell asleep. She then went to a nearby apartment where she contacted her father who then alerted police.

The victim was transported to St. Francis hospital. Edwin was locked up at the Charleston County Detention Center.

Source: http://www.live5news.com/story/17351770/police-west-ashley-man-beats-rapes-pregnant-girlfriend

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