GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A well-known rental property owner appeared in Kent County Court, accused of beating his estranged wife so badly that she had to play dead to escape.
Marshall Brabo was arraigned on assault with intent to commit murder.
He and his wife Pamela were not living together and were in the middle of divorce proceedings.
Pamela reported that Saturday she had went over to Brabo’s home in Courtland Township and discussed matters related to the divorce.
At some point, he told her she was going to die that night. Then, he allegedly grabbed a wrench and crowbar out of a dresser and hit her with the tools as well as with a dresser drawer.
Police also reported finding a bloody hammer at the scene.
Pamela reported to police she played dead as Brabo hit her more, then choked her.
After he was done with the assault, Pamela said, he wiped her face with a paper towel or cloth and began wiping the walls.
As she she remained motionless, she reportedly heard him getting pills from the kitchen and bathroom where she lay on the floor and took a number of them, presumably she said to kill himself.
After she thought he’d passed out, she said she crawled out of the house and got into her car and drove to a nearby McDonald’s for help.
She was taken to Butterworth hospital where they reported multiple fractures to her skull and face.
When authorities went in search of Marshall, they found him passed out in a bedroom on his hands, but they say he was breathing.
Police said he reported that he took 30 to 40 pills and he was also taken to a hospital for treatment.
Court documents reveal he’d left a note on a chair by the door that read, “Brittany do not come in call police.”
Marshall was charged with assault with intent to murder.
He is being held on a $1 million bond.
