SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio — A woman arrived at the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, seeking help after being held against her will and assaulted by her estranged husband. According to Sheriff David Thoroughman, the victim showed up at the office with multiple injuries and was covered in blood. Detectives began collecting evidence while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
The victim reported that she had been assaulted multiple times with a taser and punched in the face and kicked all over her body. She was also choked twice and received lacerations to her hands from a knife. The victim, 44 years old, was taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center for treatment, where she was found to have suffered a broken hand, a dislocated shoulder, bruising, a black eye, and lacerations.
Sheriff Thoroughman said that detectives and deputies responded to the reported incident location at 581 Twin Creek Road in Blue Creek, Ohio. They detained the suspect, 36-year-old Matthew E. Sheppard, without incident and obtained consent to search the residence. Detectives recovered the taser and knife used in the assault.
Sheppard has been charged with one count of Felonious Assault, a second-degree felony, and one count of Kidnapping, a first-degree felony. He is being held on a $120,000 bond and appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
Sheriff Thoroughman noted that the investigation is still ongoing and could result in additional charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury at a later date. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.