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LAYTON — Police say a Layton man forced an ex-girlfriend into her apartment on Aug. 4 and proceeded to assault her over the next 20 hours.
According to charging documents, Benjamin Luke Burnside, 21, assaulted the woman, 23, from 11 p.m. that night until 7 p.m. the next day at the Layton Meadows Apartments, 540 West 1425 North.
Police said Burnside beat the woman and strangled her until she was unconscious multiple times. He also beat her with a golf club and a metal strip from the refrigerator, and taped her mouth shut, charges state.
The woman attempted to call 911 and escape numerous times, but Burnside took her phone away and threatened to kill her, according to court documents.
Police said that Burnside, who had a knife, eventually agreed to leave the apartment with the woman in her vehicle and told her where to drive. The woman was able to escape from the vehicle somewhere in Layton, charges state.
- The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition has a statewide, 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or visit their website here.
Burnside also allegedly stole $80 and a makeup bag from the woman.
He has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary, both first-degree felonies.
Burnside was previously convicted of felony drug distribution in 2012. On two occasions in the past year, he was charged with misdemeanor assault in cases involving domestic violence. He was also charged with felony drug possession in April.
