Late Saturday night, Cumberland County sheriff’s deputies were summoned to Vandever Corner Market, after receiving a call about a woman who had been assaulted by her husband. The victim had been taken there by her daughter from her home, where the assault reportedly occurred. Deputies observed the woman’s speech was slurred and she appeared unsteady on her feet. She admitted to having drunk “three long island iced teas.” The woman also appeared to have facial swelling and redness around her throat, which she reportedly said was a result of having been struck numerous times and strangled by her husband. The woman was taken by EMS to Cumberland Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. Meanwhile, the daughter was reportedly instructed to wait at the store with her younger brother while deputies responded to the scene of the assault.

Four deputies responded to the Christian Road home, where they found 51-year-old Edward Duane Haston on the front porch, reportedly with a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. He was also said to have slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. Deputies saw blood on Haston’s jeans and abdomen, along with small lacerations on his arm above the elbow and on his palm – which was accompanied by redness.

According to the report, deputies asked Haston how his wife came about her injuries; he claimed she assaulted him, and her injuries were caused by another man, with whom he alleges she has been staying. Haston was taken into custody at that point.

Upon entering the residence to investigate the crime scene, deputies reportedly saw Haston’s son on the couch, and empty alcoholic-beverage cans strewn about the living room and dining room, as well as in the kitchen garbage can. Atop the kitchen garbage can was reportedly a large “bundle” of hair that seemed consistent with the victim’s. According to the report, the son said he put it there after having mistaken it for a piece of “stuffing” protruding from the recliner.

Upon returning to Vandever Corner Market, deputies spoke again with the daughter, who, according to the report, had both children with her when she returned home to find her mother, hunched over and crying, in the recliner. She said her mother showed her the injuries, and asked that she take her “someplace to call the cops” because there was limited cell reception at the home. She, her mother and brother went to the store to make the call; the other brother reportedly asked to stay at home.

The following day, when the victim was released from the hospital, and was not impaired by alcohol, a deputy returned to get a written voluntary witness statement. The report stated after she removed an alcoholic beverage from his hands, the victim and her husband began arguing. She said Haston “threw” her into a chair and struck her in the face approximately 10 times. He then grabbed her by the throat, shaking her and cursing at her. She said he grabbed her by the hair and jerked her head back and forth, attempting to pull her to the floor. She said by that time she had begun to see lights in her vision and hearing ringing in her ears. The victim reportedly begged him to stop, to which he responded she “shouldn’t make him mad.” She said her daughter arrived about a minute and a half later with the younger children.

Haston was taken to Cumberland County jail and charged with aggravated assault, domestic related, and initially placed under $20,000 bond.