Woman charged in man's chaining....
Monday, October 27, 2003
In a bizarre four-day ordeal, a Swissvale man was chained to a pole in the basement of his home by the woman with whom he lives and fed only a small bowl of soup, Swissvale police said.
Balvantbhai Khalasi's plight came to light when he broke free and fled to his next-door neighbor's house.
Dean Bonacci said he opened his door on Pocono Street about 5:30 p.m. Saturday to find an embarrassed Khalasi, 37, with his head down and chains around his neck.
Khalasi, who arrived at Bonacci's house dressed in pajama bottoms and a button-down shirt, told his neighbor he'd been chained in his basement since Wednesday.
He looked very frail, like he'd lost a lot of weight, Bonacci said.
Khalasi was so dehydrated when he got to Bonacci's that he drank 48 ounces of pop and tea within seconds, said Bonacci, who also saw dried blood on Khalasi's head.
According to police, Christine Vannucci, 46, the woman with whom Khalasi lives, hit him on the head with a crowbar, knocking him unconscious. When he awoke, he had chains around his neck. She ordered him to the cellar where she hit him again and chained him to a pole. Khalasi finally managed to break free and run to Bonacci's.
Bonacci described Vannucci as 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. Khalasi is shorter, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs about 150 to 160 pounds.
Vannucci, who was arraigned in City Court Saturday night on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering a person, terroristic threats and unlawful restraint, was being held in Allegheny County Jail on $10,000 bond yesterday. A City Court spokesman said she could not be released until she was seen by a behavior clinic doctor.
Vannucci believed Khalasi was cheating on her, Khalasi told Bonacci.
Khalasi could not be reached for comment.
Khalasi, who is a native of India, did not want police to get involved for fear of losing his job and of being deported, Bonacci said. But Bonacci assured him he'd done nothing wrong and called Swissvale police.
Police used bolt cutters to sever the chains around Khalasi's neck, Bonacci said.
Khalasi was taken to UPMC Braddock, treated and released, police said.
Bonacci said his brother later took Khalasi to a friend's house in Oakland.
:nono:
Monday, October 27, 2003
In a bizarre four-day ordeal, a Swissvale man was chained to a pole in the basement of his home by the woman with whom he lives and fed only a small bowl of soup, Swissvale police said.
Balvantbhai Khalasi's plight came to light when he broke free and fled to his next-door neighbor's house.
Dean Bonacci said he opened his door on Pocono Street about 5:30 p.m. Saturday to find an embarrassed Khalasi, 37, with his head down and chains around his neck.
Khalasi, who arrived at Bonacci's house dressed in pajama bottoms and a button-down shirt, told his neighbor he'd been chained in his basement since Wednesday.
He looked very frail, like he'd lost a lot of weight, Bonacci said.
Khalasi was so dehydrated when he got to Bonacci's that he drank 48 ounces of pop and tea within seconds, said Bonacci, who also saw dried blood on Khalasi's head.
According to police, Christine Vannucci, 46, the woman with whom Khalasi lives, hit him on the head with a crowbar, knocking him unconscious. When he awoke, he had chains around his neck. She ordered him to the cellar where she hit him again and chained him to a pole. Khalasi finally managed to break free and run to Bonacci's.
Bonacci described Vannucci as 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. Khalasi is shorter, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs about 150 to 160 pounds.
Vannucci, who was arraigned in City Court Saturday night on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering a person, terroristic threats and unlawful restraint, was being held in Allegheny County Jail on $10,000 bond yesterday. A City Court spokesman said she could not be released until she was seen by a behavior clinic doctor.
Vannucci believed Khalasi was cheating on her, Khalasi told Bonacci.
Khalasi could not be reached for comment.
Khalasi, who is a native of India, did not want police to get involved for fear of losing his job and of being deported, Bonacci said. But Bonacci assured him he'd done nothing wrong and called Swissvale police.
Police used bolt cutters to sever the chains around Khalasi's neck, Bonacci said.
Khalasi was taken to UPMC Braddock, treated and released, police said.
Bonacci said his brother later took Khalasi to a friend's house in Oakland.
:nono: 
