A man faces a felony strangulation charge and other offenses after police say he choked his girlfriend, struck her in the head, and threatened to kill her earlier this week.
Robert Zettlemoyer, 61, of Minersville, is charged with first-degree felony strangulation, first-degree misdemeanor terroristic threats, second-degree misdemeanor simple assault, and summary harassment. Bail was set Tuesday at $10,000.
Police in Minersville were contacted shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday after a hospital worker reported an assault victim had been brought into the emergency room covered in bruises. The assault occurred at a residence on Pottsville St. in Minersville, police say.
At the hospital, the victim told police Zettlemoyer struck her in the head with his knuckles. Police observed a scalp hematoma measuring approximately 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide, which police noted was consistent with the imprint of a fist.
The victim said the most recent strike occurred around midnight, but that Zettlemoyer had been abusive earlier. Police observed multiple other bruises on the victim’s face and arms. The victim reported that Zettlemoyer grabbed her by the face and squeezed hard enough to cause bruises, and that he held her down on a couch, causing the bruising on her arms and hands.
The victim told police she was later awoken by Zettlemoyer choking her, making it difficult for her to breathe. The victim stated she begged him to get off of her.
The victim was able to leave the residence and went to a neighbor for help. The neighbor told police the victim was terrified, shaking, and pale. The neighbor drove the victim to the hospital after she said Zettlemoyer had hit her.
The victim told police she was afraid of Zettlemoyer. She reported that Zettlemoyer told her if she contacted the police, he would get out of jail and kill her.
A preliminary hearing for this case is scheduled for July 7 before Senior Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis in Port Carbon.
Schuylkill County Crisis & Support Resources
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence, free, confidential, and inclusive help is available 24/7 in Schuylkill County.
- Schuylkill Hope Center (Domestic Violence): Call the 24/7 hotline at (570) 622-6220, text HOPELINE to 20121, or visit schopecenter.org. Services include emergency shelter, housing assistance, counseling, and legal representation.
- SARCC (Sexual Assault): Call the 24/7 hotline at (570) 628-2965 or visit sarccheals.org for counseling, advocacy, and healing support for survivors of sexual violence.
- Outside Schuylkill County: Residents across Pennsylvania can find their local domestic violence program at pcadv.org. You can also visit domesticshelters.org to find resources near you.
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