Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 9, 2006 16:19:52 GMT -5
09.09.2006 - BLOUNTVILLE - A Kingsport man was arraigned Friday on charges of attempted rape, especially aggravated kidnapping, and domestic assault after allegedly keeping his Chinese wife prisoner and forcing her to eat human excrement.
Louis R. Batori, 60, of 700 Buttermilk Road, is being held without bond. His wife and her son are in protective custody.
Authorities said Batori is a retired police officer from a sheriff's department in New York state.
According to Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Detective Karen Watkins, Yuezhu Liu, 44, described a home life comparable to a prison when Watkins interviewed her for information relating to the case.
"She was denied freedom at all times, simple as that. She had to do certain things or perform certain tasks to do such things as getting groceries. There was no phone in the house, and the house was kept very clean," Watkins said.
The night before Batori was arrested he allegedly tried to make his wife perform a sexual act on two different occasions.
After the second attempt, he reportedly threatened her with a shotgun if she failed to carry out one of the acts the following day.
"Out of fear of what might happen to her son, they both left the house at 7 a.m. on Thursday in order to get some help," Watkins said.
"Before this took place, because of the different cultures, she did not have a clue that this was not the way things were supposed to be. He had always told her that these were the things that the wife does for the husband.
"They had been married for approximately a year-and-a-half and she knew no one from this area, and she had tried to leave once before. She walked two hours to get to that pay phone and call 9-1-1. She had the courage to stand up this time."
According to the affidavit, the couple married in China in January 2005 and had returned to Kingsport shortly after the ceremony.
Liu told the officer that the level of physical and sexual abuse increased once the two were married.
The report states that Batori kept a rifle under the living room couch, a shotgun in the bedroom, and two pistols in other places in the home.
The police report also detailed an incident in July 2005 where Batori reportedly refused to take his wife, who was bleeding and complaining of back pain, to a doctor unless she ate his feces, which she reportedly did after they returned from her medical treatment.
Liu told officers she tried to leave the home in 2005, going to a neighbor's house to contact police, who reportedly could not place her in a shelter because she lacked personal identification.
After sitting in the Kingsport Justice Center lobby all night, Liu says she walked to a nearby restaurant where a woman offered to drive her home.
"Because of the conditions she was being subject to, she knew no one, could call no one, and had nowhere to go. She decided not to report the abuse out of fear of what her husband would do to her," Watkins said.
Batori allegedly would not allow his wife to leave the home unless he accompanied her and he would not let her use a telephone, and in some cases, he would force her to wear clothing that revealed parts of her body while out in public.
"She told us there was one incident where they went to the Fort Henry Mall and the security officers stopped her and asked why she was wearing indecent clothing," Watkins said.
Liu, who received her U.S. citizenship green card in April, also told the officer that trips to the grocery store could not be made unless she performed sexual acts or danced for Batori.
In researching Batori's background on Friday and executing a search warrant at the couple's home, Watkins said she found articles and documents indicating that Batori was a retired police officer from a sheriff's department in New York state.
Batori also reportedly volunteered that information while being interviewed on Thursday.
"I have not contacted police officials there yet, but we did find his badge, some photographs and some documents that confirmed that," Watkins said.
Liu and her son are in an undisclosed shelter, according to
Watkins, and they both will be taken for medical tests on Monday.
Watkins said Liu told her she wants to remain in the United States to work and make a better life for herself and her son.
"She is mentally and physically exhausted right now. But she wants to work. I can tell that is important to her. We have spoken with a Chinese organization based here in the Tri-Cities that is very eager to help them both," Watkins said.
www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=3675037
Louis R. Batori, 60, of 700 Buttermilk Road, is being held without bond. His wife and her son are in protective custody.
Authorities said Batori is a retired police officer from a sheriff's department in New York state.
According to Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Detective Karen Watkins, Yuezhu Liu, 44, described a home life comparable to a prison when Watkins interviewed her for information relating to the case.
"She was denied freedom at all times, simple as that. She had to do certain things or perform certain tasks to do such things as getting groceries. There was no phone in the house, and the house was kept very clean," Watkins said.
The night before Batori was arrested he allegedly tried to make his wife perform a sexual act on two different occasions.
After the second attempt, he reportedly threatened her with a shotgun if she failed to carry out one of the acts the following day.
"Out of fear of what might happen to her son, they both left the house at 7 a.m. on Thursday in order to get some help," Watkins said.
"Before this took place, because of the different cultures, she did not have a clue that this was not the way things were supposed to be. He had always told her that these were the things that the wife does for the husband.
"They had been married for approximately a year-and-a-half and she knew no one from this area, and she had tried to leave once before. She walked two hours to get to that pay phone and call 9-1-1. She had the courage to stand up this time."
According to the affidavit, the couple married in China in January 2005 and had returned to Kingsport shortly after the ceremony.
Liu told the officer that the level of physical and sexual abuse increased once the two were married.
The report states that Batori kept a rifle under the living room couch, a shotgun in the bedroom, and two pistols in other places in the home.
The police report also detailed an incident in July 2005 where Batori reportedly refused to take his wife, who was bleeding and complaining of back pain, to a doctor unless she ate his feces, which she reportedly did after they returned from her medical treatment.
Liu told officers she tried to leave the home in 2005, going to a neighbor's house to contact police, who reportedly could not place her in a shelter because she lacked personal identification.
After sitting in the Kingsport Justice Center lobby all night, Liu says she walked to a nearby restaurant where a woman offered to drive her home.
"Because of the conditions she was being subject to, she knew no one, could call no one, and had nowhere to go. She decided not to report the abuse out of fear of what her husband would do to her," Watkins said.
Batori allegedly would not allow his wife to leave the home unless he accompanied her and he would not let her use a telephone, and in some cases, he would force her to wear clothing that revealed parts of her body while out in public.
"She told us there was one incident where they went to the Fort Henry Mall and the security officers stopped her and asked why she was wearing indecent clothing," Watkins said.
Liu, who received her U.S. citizenship green card in April, also told the officer that trips to the grocery store could not be made unless she performed sexual acts or danced for Batori.
In researching Batori's background on Friday and executing a search warrant at the couple's home, Watkins said she found articles and documents indicating that Batori was a retired police officer from a sheriff's department in New York state.
Batori also reportedly volunteered that information while being interviewed on Thursday.
"I have not contacted police officials there yet, but we did find his badge, some photographs and some documents that confirmed that," Watkins said.
Liu and her son are in an undisclosed shelter, according to
Watkins, and they both will be taken for medical tests on Monday.
Watkins said Liu told her she wants to remain in the United States to work and make a better life for herself and her son.
"She is mentally and physically exhausted right now. But she wants to work. I can tell that is important to her. We have spoken with a Chinese organization based here in the Tri-Cities that is very eager to help them both," Watkins said.
www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=3675037