Opinion ID: 2996038
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Events Prior to and Surrounding January 14,

Text: 2001 Young and Patrick began dating in 1989, when Young was fifteen years old and Patrick was seventeen years old. During their ten- to eleven-year relationship, the couple had three children but never married. The relationship was marred by domestic violence, and in April of 2000 Patrick obtained an Order of Protection against Young. Though it appears the relationship was an off-and-on arrangement, the two were at least in touch in January of 2001, when Patrick sent word to Young that she needed money from him. At that time, Patrick lived in the Altgeld Gardens housing development in Chicago, Illinois, while Young resided in Michigan City, Indiana. No. 02-1294 3 On the evening of January 14, 2001, Young drove with a friend, Forknewin Sidney, and two others from his home in Michigan City to the Altgeld Gardens development. After dropping Sidney off at Sidney’s mother’s home, Young located Patrick at Theresa Miller’s home, a neighbor of Patrick’s. In addition to Patrick, Young also found George Terry present. Patrick previously had told Terry that if Young caught the two of them together, he would kill them both. When Young arrived at the apartment, he became visibly agitated at Terry’s presence. Young kept one hand in his pocket, which apparently contained a heavier object. Terry fled the apartment, and Young proceeded upstairs and confronted Patrick by grabbing her and asking whether she had been “messing around” with Terry. This argument escalated and Young punched Patrick near her eye and told her to leave with him. The two eventually tumbled down the stairs from the second floor of Miller’s home while struggling. Miller and her nephew broke the two apart and ordered both of them to leave, for fear of damage to Miller’s apartment. Patrick pleaded with Miller to allow her to stay because Patrick said she could not breathe, but Miller insisted that she leave. The argument continued outside, and Patrick eventually entered Young’s car and drove to a nearby wooded area, where Patrick’s car was parked. Once there, Young continued to yell at Patrick and used a car jack to smash the front passenger window of her car. Patrick also testified before the grand jury that Young said “Don’t play with me” and “I’ll kill you” at this time. Young then drove both of them back to Patrick’s apartment and proceeded upstairs into her bedroom, where the couple’s three children were present. Young told the children to get out of the room and told Patrick that she was coming with him, but Patrick refused. The two continued to argue, with Patrick refusing to go until Young picked up a plas- 4 No. 02-1294 tic milk crate and threatened to hit Patrick if she did not go. Patrick eventually left the apartment with Young and got into his van. Young then drove Patrick, Sidney, and his two other friends to Michigan City, Indiana. Though Patrick testified at trial that she was not “forced” to leave with Young, she testified before the grand jury that she feared for her life if she did not go with him. During the drive to Indiana, Patrick held her head as if in pain and spoke to no one, except to ask for a cigarette on one occasion. When they arrived at Young’s apartment, Patrick walked straight into his bedroom with Young close behind. Once inside, Young began beating Patrick with his fists, kicking her, and choking her. This scenario replayed itself off and on over the ensuing two to three hours. On at least one occasion, Patrick called out to Young’s friends, who were in the other room, but no one intervened. Patrick did not leave the bedroom that first night.