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Beaver Co. Woman Attacked In Sleep Met Suspect Online

PITTSBURGH (AP) - State police say a Pennsylvania woman who was bludgeoned in her sleep, but survived, met her attacker online.

Troopers from the Beaver barracks on Tuesday revealed more information on the arrest of 47-year-old William Spengler.

Trooper Dan Kesten says the Harvard, Illinois man met the woman a while back and decided to visit her home in Independence Township over the holidays.

After an argument, Spengler beat the woman with a blunt object while she slept then took her car about 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

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Police say he abandoned the car at a bus station in the state of Indiana, and was arrested when police tracked him to another bus station in Knox County, Tennessee.

State police are trying to extradite Spengler to Pennsylvania. It's not clear if he has an attorney.

The woman remains hospitalized.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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