A Clackamas County man was arrested this week for allegedly beating his girlfriend nearly to death with a piece of wood.
Shortly after midnight Wednesday, Jan. 9, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of domestic of violence in a residential neighborhood in Welches, an unincorporated community on the edge of the Mt. Hood National Forest in eastern Clackamas County.
Initial reports suggested that the suspect, 61-year-old William Joseph Bouley, had beaten the victim to death and was threatening to kill himself.
Deputies made contact with Bouley by phone and instructed him to walk outside and surrender to police custody, which he did without incident.
Paramedics from Hoodland Fire District then located the victim, lying on a couch in the residence, and determined she had actually survived the assault, but was suffering from traumatic injuries, including a severe head wound.
The sheriff’s office described her as “conscious, but disoriented” while being treated at the scene. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Bouley was transported to the Clackamas County Jail and booked for attempted murder. His bail is set at $500,000.
