February 17, 2016
A man ordered to stay away from his wife for his violent behavior broke into her home and sexually assaulted her on Valentine's Day, attempting to kill her cousin as well, prosecutors said Wednesday.
According to the Chester County District Attorney's Office, the wife of William Brown, 45, of Nottingham, was granted a protection from abuse order on Feb. 12 after Brown threatened to kill her -- and himself -- with a butcher's knife.
Two days later, the victim was at home with her cousin when Brown kicked in the front door, stabbing her cousin in the chest with a knife and grabbing his wife by the throat, choking her until she became disoriented, authorities say.
While Brown continued to attack the victim's cousin by allegedly cutting her face, hitting her in the head with a wooden statue and stabbing her in the chest again, the victim was somehow able to dial 911 and hide her cell phone, according to prosecutors.
Brown then allegedly brought the victim into a bedroom and raped her, telling her afterward he would kill her, her cousin and himself.
When they heard someone at the front door, the victim said it must be their daughter and Brown said to let her in. Instead, it was Pennsylvania State Police troopers responding to the 911 call.
Brown was arrested and the two women were taken to the hospital. The victim's cousin was operated on and is in serious but stable condition, authorities say.
"This defendant inflicted a savage attack on his wife and her cousin. But he was as meek as a lamb when armed trooper showed up," District Attorney Thomas Hogan said in a press release. "He is a classic bully and coward."
Brown faces charges of rape, attempted murder and related counts. He was arraigned and jailed at Chester County Prison on $500,000 cash bail.
