A Schuylkill County man faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault of an unborn child, after police say he repeatedly choked, assaulted, and threatened to kill a pregnant woman during a domestic dispute on Monday.
Zachary Perkins, 21, of Donaldson, is being held on $100,000 bail following the alleged incident. Police charged him with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault of an unborn child, strangulation, unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of children, and several other offenses.
Police say they responded to a report of an active domestic dispute Monday evening in Frailey Township and located the victim, who had fled to a nearby gas station.
The victim told police the physical altercation began at a home in Myerstown and continued when she returned to the Frailey Township residence to gather her cats and belongings. During an argument outside the home, the woman said she was on the phone with her mother when Perkins took a filing cabinet she was carrying and smashed it on the ground. The victim told police Perkins stated she ruined his life and that he wished she had gotten an abortion.
Once inside the house, the woman told police Perkins grabbed her by the neck, pushed her into a washing machine, and shoved her to the kitchen floor. While pinning her to the ground with both hands around her neck, the victim said she was unable to breathe. She told police Perkins threatened to make her pass out, stating that he “could f***ing kill me.”
According to the victim, Perkins then stood up and placed his foot on her stomach, putting his full weight onto it. The woman told police she is about four weeks pregnant and that Perkins knew about the pregnancy.
After Perkins let her up to smash her cell phone, the woman said she attempted to flee but was hit with a door and shoved back to the ground. She told police she grabbed a knife, hoping it would make him leave her alone. The victim stated Perkins then threw her down, dragged her into the living room, and slammed the knife next to her head while repeatedly stating he could kill her.
The woman told police she tried to leave the home five times but was repeatedly thrown to the floor. The victim suffered a concussion and vomited multiple times after hitting her head and having her stomach stepped on, police say. She was transported to a hospital, where an ultrasound showed the baby appeared to be healthy.
The victim also reported a previous incident a month prior where Perkins choked her. She told police that when she expressed concern about him harming the unborn child during that earlier altercation, Perkins replied that if he wanted to kill the baby, he would.
When questioned by police, Perkins denied the allegations. Police say Perkins stated he “may have pushed her,” but could not explain the red marks police observed on the woman’s neck, arms, and wrists.
Perkins was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli early Tuesday morning and sent to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing before Judge Christian Lengel is scheduled for May 14.
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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