Posted on November 26, 2012

Man Accused of Violent Hammer Attack

Lindsay Buckingham, Fox 8 (Cleveland), November 2, 2012

A Cleveland man has been arrested in connection to a brutal attack against the mother of his children, Fox 8 News reports.

Cleveland police say Johnny Douglas Whitfield, 35, was arrested Friday morning on accusations that he struck Arela Leidy several times in the head with a hammer as their two children slept in a nearby room.

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Leidy’s family told Fox 8 News that the couple had been broken up for two years, but still lived in the same home together for the sake of their children.

Relatives also said they believed Whitfield attacked Leidy when she was sleeping.

Leidy is in a medically-induced coma in the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital.

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