THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100182
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Detectives are investigating whether alcohol and an argument led to the severe beating of a 35-year-old woman who was found bloody and unconscious behind a shopping center Thursday.
The woman, whose name is being withheld until police determine if she is also a sexual-assault victim, was upgraded from critical to serious condition Friday, police spokesman Lou Thurston said.
Detectives were able to talk with her for the first time on Friday at Virginia Beach General Hospital.
Thurston said an acquaintance of the woman, 30-year-old Derrick J. Hunter, has been charged in the assault.
Thurston said investigators believe the two had been drinking before the assault. Hunter and the woman apparently walked together to the Princess Anne Plaza Shopping Center just before 3:30 p.m., Thurston said.
Detectives think an argument may have led Hunter to kick and punch the woman into unconsciousness and strip away some of her clothes.
They allege that Hunter, of the 3900 block of Brentwood Crescent, left the woman lying on the ground behind the shopping center, and then walked into a nearby pizza store.
A store employee found the woman moments later and called police.
Police said Hunter had blood on him when he was arrested at the shopping center. He is being held without bail at the city jail. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Derrick J. Hunter has been charged
KEYWORDS: ASSAULT
by CNB