According to reports released Tuesday from the Bellefontaine Police Department, a man was arrested after police discovered a woman suffering from serious head injuries during a welfare check.
Officers were called to a home on West Brown Avenue on Thursday morning, after a caller reported seeing the victim covered in blood the night before.
When officers arrived, they entered the building and found the victim upstairs, sitting on a bed and covered in blood.
Police reported the victim was bleeding heavily from several wounds to her head.
She had both fresh and dried blood on her face, chest, arms, and hands, and her right eye was bruised and swollen shut.
Officers requested emergency medical assistance due to the severity of her injuries.
Authorities said the victim appeared confused and upset, repeatedly asking officers if she was going to be okay or if she was going to die.
The victim told police she did not remember how she was injured, but mentioned several times that 52-year-old Michael Cole had been drinking.
A witness told officers that Cole had left the residence about 20 to 40 minutes before police arrived.
While medics were treating the victim, Cole returned to the residence.
When questioned, Cole initially said he did not know what had happened, claiming he had been gone for about an hour.
However, police say Cole later admitted that he and the victim had gotten into a fight the night before and acknowledged hitting her with his fist “a couple” of times.
He told officers the victim had been punching him and said he would defend himself if someone put their hands on him.
Cole admitted he was drunk at the time.
He was taken into custody and transported to the Logan County Jail on felonious assault charges.
The victim was transported by emergency medical personnel for treatment.
The investigation remains ongoing.
