http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/man-accused-of-beating-wife-free-on-bond-041012Investigators said a woman was tortured and beaten. She was in the intensive care unit for more than a week. But the man allegedly responsible is free on bond.
According to the Van Zandt Sheriff’s Office, Lisa Holden escaped from her south Canton home with her 2 and 3-year-old children after her husband allegedly broke her legs and hit her in the head with a bat.
She hid in the woods for two days, periodically coming out to try to flag down help. An elementary school teacher finally drove her and her children to the sheriff’s department.
“It was probably one of the most severe cases of abuse, particularly long term abuse that I’ve seen,†said Investigator Kristi Holt with the Van Zandt Sheriff’s Office.
From the hospital, Lisa Holden told investigators that on March 20 her husband Josh Holden had gotten mad at her. He hit her with a cable cord and then left the room. When he returned he hit her with a bat in her head, legs and other parts of her body. Then he hit her with jumper cables because his truck wouldn’t start. And after he dropped their 7-year-old daughter off at school, he told her he was going to kill her, according to the sheriff’s office.
“She said six months ago he had stabbed her. He had cameras inside the residence where he could monitor. We suspect he could monitor her movement when he wasn’t there,†Holt said.
Josh Holden was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury. He was later released on $100,000 bond but must wear a GPS tracking device.
Child Protective Services also since placed the couple’s three children in foster care. The two youngest children initially tested positive for methamphetamines, but are now reportedly doing well.
Lisa Holden is also doing better. But she and her family said they will fear for their safety while Josh Holden is free.
http://www.kltv.com/story/17388924/etx-hides-in-woods-to-escape-from-abusive-husbandHolt said 29-year-old Josh Holden abused and tortured his wife for seven years and kept her locked in this house, until she finally escaped.
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"She had lacerations to her head and her scalp and she had several sores all over her body and her legs were swollen," said Holt.
Authorities said Lisa is currently in the hospital. She is recovering from two broken legs, head injuries and years of abuse.
"You know physically she's getting better. All in all she's a courageous woman who got out when she could," said Holt.
Holden was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and bodily injury.
http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/04/authorities-say-canton-woman-f.htmlAuthorities say Lisa Holden spent 10 days in critical condition with two broken legs and head injuries, which caused her to lapse in and out of consciousness during her time in the woods with her girls.
"This is a textbook case of abuse," Holt said. "She's been isolated from her family, not allowed to have a phone, and there were some family members that she hadn't had contact with in nine years."
Before fleeing home, Lisa Holden told investigators that her husband was mad because "he didn't have a job and there were money issues." She said he beat her with a bat and, after his truck wouldn't start, with jumper cables.
While hiding in the woods, she feared her husband was driving around looking for her so she was scared to stop passing cars. When she did come out on the road, some passers-by ignored her, according to investigators.
Holt said a judge lowered Josh Holden's bond from $750,000 to $100,000 and ordered him to wear a GPS tracking device. The charge he faces, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
There were no previous reports of abuse at the Holdens' home, Holt said, but Lisa Holden told police it started seven years ago. She said the past month she was increasingly isolated and had little contact with her daughters, ages 2, 3 and 7.
The three girls are together in foster care, according to a Child Protective Services spokeswoman. CPS had no previous dealings with family and there were no signs of physical abuse.
"The children are happy, healthy, and we just need to get mom healthy and out of the hospital," CPS spokeswoman Shari Pulliam said. "Then we can go from there."
Pulliam said the toddlers tested positive for trace amounts of methamphetamine, which is probably from exposure. She said there were signs of a drug problem in the home.
"They are not showing any effects from it, which is a good thing," Pulliam said, adding that the children will remain in state custody, "where we know they are safe from abuse and neglect."