A Schuylkill County man is accused of assaulting a woman, threatening to kill her over a Facebook post, and fleeing with her dog and cell phone, police say.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Francis Ney III, 41, of Shenandoah, after he allegedly attacked the woman in Mount Carbon on April 16, police say. Troopers say they were dispatched to the home at approximately 8:20 a.m. for a reported domestic assault.
The victim told police she arrived home from work earlier that morning and engaged in a verbal argument with Ney regarding a Facebook post. The argument turned physical, and the woman stated she attempted to retreat behind a back door. Ney then forcibly opened the door, knocking her to the ground, according to police.
When the woman fell, her phone dropped from her pocket. Police say Ney grabbed the phone and demanded the passcode. When the woman refused, Ney allegedly placed her in a headlock, covered her mouth and nose to restrict her breathing, and prevented her from yelling for help.
While sitting on top of her, Ney told the woman he was going to kill her if she did not provide the passcode, the victim told police.
After several minutes, Ney got off the woman, and she ran to a neighbor’s house to call 9-1-1. As she made the call, Ney fled the residence, taking her phone and her dog with him, police say.
When police interviewed the victim, they observed injuries consistent with the claims made about the assault.
Ney is facing felony strangulation charges as well as misdemeanor charges of making terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple assault, reckless endangerment, theft, and robbery, as well as a summary count of harassment.
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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