Two women were jailed following a domestic dispute in Mahanoy City on Tuesday that turned physical, police say.
Rachelle Marchetti, 28, of Mahanoy City, is charged with strangulation and simple assault, both second-degree misdemeanors, and terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor. Bridget Reyes, 24, of Drums, is charged with strangulation and simple assault, both second-degree misdemeanors.
Mahanoy City police were dispatched around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday to the 600 block of E. Centre St. for a reported physical domestic dispute. Schuylkill County 9-1-1 had taken two calls, one from each woman, police say.
Police say they found Reyes outside the home on the sidewalk, visibly upset and crying and on the phone with a relative.
Reyes told police the argument started over Marchetti’s children being left with her to watch. Reyes said she was in an upstairs bedroom and had flipped a mattress while looking for her shoes when Marchetti came into the room and shoved her, police say. Reyes said she shoved Marchetti back.
The two moved into the hallway, and Reyes told police Marchetti placed both hands around her neck for about six minutes and choked her while saying, “I will go to jail this time, I will f***ing go, I will f***ing kill you.” Reyes said she broke free and left the home to call 9-1-1, police say.
Marchetti gave police a different account inside the residence. She said Reyes was upstairs in a room throwing things around and making noise, according to police. When she went into the room, Marchetti said, Reyes choked her with her hand, and Marchetti admitted to police that she choked Reyes back. Marchetti said she called police after the altercation.
Police took both women into custody at the scene. The two have been dating on and off for two years and have a history of past domestic violence incidents, police say.
Marchetti and Reyes were arraigned Tuesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker. Kilker set bail for Marchetti at 10% of $25,000 and for Reyes at 10% of $15,000.
Both women were committed to Schuylkill County Prison the same day, unable to post bail.
Preliminary hearings for both are scheduled for Aug. 27 before Kilker.
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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