Man Charged With Holding Wife Hostage For 2 Weeks Over Text Messages
WEST FINLEY (KDKA) – A Washington County man is facing charges for allegedly holding his wife hostage for nearly two weeks because of text messages he found on her phone.
Kevin Ewing, 47, of West Finley, was arrested last Friday afternoon at the Chrome Federal Credit Union on Racetrack Road.
The man's wife, identified as 48-year-old Tierne Ewing, entered the bank, but instead of making a transaction, she asked an employee for help.
"One of our customers entered our location," said Colan Miles, of the Chrome Federal Credit Union. "She had asked for assistance on a domestic dispute that was happening between her and her husband."
Ewing was believed to be armed, sitting in a pickup truck in the parking lot.
"The customer was frantic; obviously, she had through a lot of the distress," said Miles. "We took the individual into the break room area that only has employee access, contacted the local authorities and waited for them to appear."
When police arrived, they took him into custody and found a rifle and a handgun in the vehicle. Ewing also had a knife on him.
Ewing reportedly found text messages on his wife's phone, which prompted the alleged abuse.
According to police, Tierne says her husband held her against her will inside their home on Gunn Ridge Road for two weeks.
She told investigators that he allegedly pistol-whipped her and locked her in a closet. Police say he then took her camping in the woods where he's accused of putting a gun to her head and threatened her.
He's also accused of branding her legs with a metal hot dog stick, and stapling her forehead to close a wound.
Ewing is facing a list of charges including, kidnapping, aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license and unlawful restraint.
He was released from the Washington County Jail after posting $100,000 bond.
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