Man accused of beating pregnant woman, her daughters

A Sikeston, Missouri, man is in custody after being accused of beating his pregnant stepdaughter and her two young daughters.

Lonnie W. Ward, 45, faces felony charges of first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree domestic assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said in a news release authorities were sent Sunday to an address on County Highway 450 in Sikeston for a domestic-disturbance report.

Upon arrival, deputies found a broken window on the front porch.

The victim appeared and said the suspect, her stepfather, had fled. She said Ward broke into her residence by breaking the porch window, kicked in her bedroom door and threw her around.

Ward dragged the woman, who is 8 months pregnant, down the hall by her hair before throwing the victim’s 5-year-old daughter across the living room and shoving the victim’s 9-year-old daughter, the release stated.

The victim said Ward then threw her onto a bed and choked her before punching and kicking her in the stomach.

Ward warned the victim not to contact police, took her cell phone and left, the release stated.

The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Department contacted the Sikeston Department of Public Safety after ascertaining Ward’s wherebouts.

Ward was arrested in Sikeston and taken to the Scott County Jail. He remains in custody on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627