Mother Saves Herself And 17-Month-Old Son By Posting On Facebook

SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah woman used Facebook to seek help after she and her 17-month-old son were held hostage at a residence for nearly five days, police said.

Police Sgt. Jon Arnold said the woman hid in a closet with a laptop to post her plea for help on the social networking website, saying she and her son would be "dead by morning" if they were not rescued.

The post prompted someone to call police, who went to the home to check on the woman's welfare.

"Facebook was her only outlet that she had at the home," Arnold said. "It just happened that she was able to use it."

Police arrested Troy Reed Critchfield, 33, and booked him into jail Saturday for investigation of aggravated kidnapping, forcible sodomy, aggravated assault, domestic violence, child abuse, animal cruelty and other charges.

Salt Lake County Jail records show Critchfield initially refused to let police in the house.

The papers say the woman shook her head to indicate "No," when officers asked if she was OK.

After police separated the couple, the woman told officers she and her child had not been allowed to leave the home and that she repeatedly had been hit, choked and sexually abused over a period of nearly five days. Jail records show the woman also claimed Critchfield had taken her cell phone and the phone of a disabled child also in the home.

"She claims that any time she went to go to a door, he physically assaulted her," Arnold told The Associated Press on Monday.

The woman had bruises and other physical injuries consistent with allegations, but refused to go to a hospital for treatment, he said.

She also told officers that Critchfield grabbed the boy's arms and treated him roughly, while also refusing to let her feed the family dog, jail papers state.

Critchfield remained in jail on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

Utah State Court records show that in December 2010 Critchfield pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault and obstruction of justice charges in connection with a domestic violence incident.

A judge sentenced Critchfield to a prison term of five years, but suspended the punishment for a 120-day jail term and three years of probation.

Comments

[paulwl]

11:42 AM on 01/29/2012

This time . . . . HE STAYS IN JAIL, P-E-R-I-O-D! Why do some men think they can make women do what they want like slaves? A public de-balling by the victim is necessary to send the messages that no means . . .go take your cold shower! This is eye-for-a-eye business.

[sara071376]

10:40 AM on 01/26/2012

PEOPLE - this crime just happened last month. He has not been sentenced for THIS crime yet. The article isn't real clear, but the sentencing is for the offense back in 2010. Stop saying "shame on the judge", blah blah blah. He is still awaiting trial.

[Trish Jansen]

05:42 AM on 01/29/2012

It does say that...it starts another paragraph with "In December 21010....." and the explains the crime and sentence for it. How clear does it need to be

[Dragontech]

12:18 PM on 01/29/2012

For some, apparently you need to feed it to them on a cracker. I could figure it out without paying real attention that he is still in jail awaiting trial for these crimes, and the 120 day sentence was for the 2010 crimes. This guy needs life without possibility of parole for this.

[ripuree]

02:08 PM on 01/29/2012

You are right. The article isn't clear. How do he get her for example? Were they kidnapped off the street? Did they know each other beforehand?

[Sydney Glover]

07:58 AM on 01/26/2012

shame on the moderator for not posting my comment. That is shameful censorship. What are you afraid of? The truth? Have the guts to post my comment!

[sara071376]

10:36 AM on 01/26/2012

that's funny - because your comment is posted below. try giving the mods a few minutes before freaking out.

[kateslate]

02:17 PM on 01/29/2012

No wonder Sydney has zero fans.....

[Paula Clark]

03:10 AM on 01/25/2012

What kind of a person is this judge who reduced the jail sentence of the man involved in this case? After all the physical abuse perpetrated by this criminal, it's like a slap in the face to the victim, who was subjected to the violence of these attacks...reducing a 5-year prison sentence to a mere 120 days is reprehensible, and the judge who did this should be kicked off the bench! In my opinion, he should also face criminal charges, as it seems as if he condones violence against women as he did in this particular case...there's no legitimate reason to justify his decision...

[Sydney Glover]

07:41 AM on 01/26/2012

Paula, there are victims and there are people who claim to be victims. Notice the story. It gives no facts. It mentions the couple was separated by police. News is never reality. All women at some point on another play victim to get their way. Stop playing victim and then society can really handle the real cases. You overload the system with the lies. Don't believe me, then look at the courts with false rape and abuse cases that are finally revealed. Take accountability for actions as part of the relationship. Your kind never does!

[sewamused]

11:53 AM on 01/26/2012

Seriously... you actually believe the garbage you're spewing out? It's your mentality that forces women to stay in abusive situations because you don't believe that violence against women actually exists to the extent it does. I'll give you the fact that there are some who do cry rape or abuse, but you're talking about a very slim margin of these reports Sydney. And every time it happens (false allegations) it makes it that much harder for the next woman who was abused... I'll bet you believe O.J. was innocent too...

[Trish Jansen]

05:39 AM on 01/29/2012

wow, you need some help dude......

[MsLadyBlueWorld]

10:52 PM on 01/24/2012

it goes to show that people are sick and they have the nerve to let more of these sickos out of jail really?

[MsLadyBlueWorld]

10:48 PM on 01/24/2012

well iguess facebook is good for something instead of someone posting their ridiculous crimes and low IQ thoughts on glad they are ok though

[Deborrah Cooper]

03:19 PM on 01/24/2012

IN the previous domestic violence assault case, the judge let the guy go with a 120 day jail sentence and 3 years probation instead of the 5 years he'd been sentenced to. Why do judges give abusers such light sentences is the real issue. Across the country, case after case, men beat, rape, stalk and kill their girlfriends and wives after they "get off" with light sentence for a previous assault. Some men get no time at all. What message does this send to women? That the courts in this country find no value in female lives and physical well-being, and that the good ole boy's network extends even into homes. If a woman cannot feel safe in her own home, where can she be safe? There should be NO plea bargaining or arbitrary sentence reductions in cases of domestic violence. Letting these violent men out of prison is a grave social error. When is it enough? When the woman is dead? These types of cases and the judges that handle them so cavalierly disgust me.

[IconoclasticYouth]

10:26 PM on 01/24/2012

over crowding mostly

[suppjamieee]

02:20 AM on 01/26/2012

Then let the non-violent marijuana offenders - the ones popped with a small stash of personal dope - OUT. That would free up 30% of jails for these psychos. Our justice system is a joke.

[kateslate]

05:49 PM on 01/29/2012

I agree. The ship is turning around ever so slowly. This is a "social justice" issue, and you know only half the population is interested in "social justice."

[bursar2000]

04:25 AM on 01/24/2012

...the 'suspended 5 yr term' and 120 days...isn't that (with the wonderful selective grammar of the media) actually referring to the PREVIOUS SENTENCING for the Dec 2010 prior incident? And what with THIS story being current and all...

[cque8]

07:33 PM on 01/23/2012

If you are in an abusive relationship...Get Out. Even if you have to leave all your personal property behind. You and/or your children are entitled to a life without fear of physical or sexual abuse.

[nybaby40]

02:07 AM on 01/23/2012

What kind of an idiot judge is this? Ok so jails may be filled to capacity and only reserved for the "very dangerous" I suppose that the threat to kill a woman and her 14 yr old child is not considered dangerous enough, no doubt a male chauvinist p*g kind of judge, and not even an animal lover.. what can one expect but for him to give such a ridiculous sentence.

[Finally a Woman]

05:01 PM on 01/22/2012

I assumed this guy was her husband, boyfriend or father of the child. The problems are many. This woman probably can't support herself and so "needs" this doofus, or thinks she does. I'm a woman who believes in choice. What I do not understand is why we women continue to have children with cruel, horrible men. Why don't we get our lives in order first before bringing innocent children into the world. Why don't our mothers tell us to make a life instead of pushing us to find a man, no matter how awful he is?

[Brenda Moses]

12:15 PM on 01/23/2012

I can not agree with you more!!!I was married to a man for 30 years. In the 70's and earlier it was get married and have a family. I went through living in HIS TOWN,HIS FAMILY next door and HIS friends living next door. He was and still is violent.He isn't married to me any more but since 2004,he has gone to marry 2 more woman. These woman knew who he was and STILL married him. He has money,credit cards,cars and these woman think that all I had been through as well as our children we made all that up???This man belongs in jail but walks around pretending to be Mr. Nice. Oh the 2ed wife? He said he woke up and found her on the ground in the kitchen,funny thing is he would always hit me in the kitchen,she died. Now wife number 3 is just as stupid but you cant tell anyone anything if they think they will get money.

[Tony Twohill]

11:56 PM on 01/24/2012

Where is this that the police are so incompetent they couldn't solve these cases or get anything to stick on him?

[oaoroho]

09:16 PM on 01/21/2012

I was raised in a situation like this and can tell you it becomes very hard for a women to leave. If she spent years of verbal abuse telling her such things as she is worthless ect unfourtunately they end up kin of believing they can't do any better. It becomes a cycle that is very hard to break. I watched as my mom was beatin many times with most ending in bruises and black eye. but there where many time she ended in the hospital getting cared for thing as far as facial reconstrucion surgey to remove stuff out of her face thet his boot had left and to fix her nose and jaw. I don't fully understan this, but it happens more often then anyone would care to admit. He spent a max of 6 months locked up for years and years of this. I don't see how a judge can be so easy on these abusive people, but he never got what he deserved in th eyes of the law. Maybe this time she will be brave and stand up for herself. I hope so at least.

[chip4chip]

03:07 PM on 01/21/2012

I read somewhere that this woman made the same claim against the SAME GUY awhile back. I'm willing to bet she just goes back to him again when he gets out of jail. I feel bad that she was abused, but if she really cares for the children involved, she should get her life together instead of running into the same situation with the same guy.

[Sheila B]

02:17 PM on 01/22/2012

Or maybe the guy forced himself back into her life by threatening her and her children, and she did not get any intervention from the officials who should have helped her in the past. Which is a most common problem. ....so is the ridiculous sentence this judge gave the abuser!

[ethanizzie]

12:38 PM on 01/21/2012

This judge is a complete IDIOT! I hope this woman can get far away!

[ethanizzie]

12:36 PM on 01/21/2012

120 days, is this judge an IDIOT!! I hope that woman can get far away!!