Man arrested for beating woman with horseshoe, dousing with gasoline

PUXICO, Mo. -- A Puxico man is behind bars after being accused of beating a woman in the head with a horseshoe and dousing her with gasoline.

Donald Wilson, 41, has been charged with felony second-degree domestic assault and felony armed criminal action. The charges against him stem from an incident that occurred April 2.

That day, Wilson and the victim became engaged in a verbal argument, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office.

The victim said in the affidavit that Wilson punched her in the head and then slammed her onto a bed. He then put her in his truck and began driving north on County Road 271. When they reached Route K, the victim attempted to kick the door open "to get help."

She said Wilson grabbed her by her hair, pulled her down into the seat and began "punching her multiple times in the head." She reportedly tried grabbing the steering wheel and stick shift in an effort to get him to stop the vehicle, but with no luck.

She said Wilson grabbed a metal horseshoe and struck her on the head with it multiple times.

The vehicle then pulled into a gravel yard off Route V, where Wilson grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of the truck, the affidavit said. The victim said Wilson threw her in the bushes and grabbed a gasoline can from the truck.

Wilson is alleged to have poured gasoline over the victim's head. She said the gas went into her eyes and mouth and was burning her skin.

The victim said she begged Wilson for her life, but he did not stop.

According the affidavit, the woman said that when she was able to see again, she realized he was going to hit her with his truck, so she began to run and scream.

Knowing that she couldn't get away, the victim grabbed a pair of bolt cutters from the truck to defend herself. She said they did not work.

According to the affidavit, the victim said Wilson told her, "he would just kill her if she ever left him again and kill anyone who tried to help her."

If convicted, Wilson could face up to seven years in prison for the felony charge and a minimum of three years for the armed criminal action charge. Because of the ACA charge, early release is not allowed before the three-year point.

Wilson is scheduled for arraignment Thursday. His bond has been set at $25,000 cash-only.

Pertinent address:

Puxico, Mo.