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Written by A. Smith
Published October 19, 2022 @ 10:29 PM ET
Warning: the following story contains strong language which may be unsuitable for some audiences. Discretion is advised.
Chatham County (October 8, 2022) – On Saturday, Police responded to a domestic situation at the local Sweet Water Spa on West Broughton Street. Chatham County 911 received a call from a woman at the spa who wanted to report that she had been held against her will and been badly beaten by her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Owen Forde.
Officers arrived on the scene and located the victim suffering from numerous serious injuries. She had substantial bruising and swelling to many areas of her body. The victim stated that Forde came to her workplace and forced his way inside through the business’s back door.
Once inside, he began yelling obscenities at her and hitting her. The victim fell to the ground, where he stomped on her head as she lay on the floor. Forde retrieved a steak knife and threatened to kill her and himself. He repeatedly called her a whore and a slut during the attack. Forde told her that she had always been a bad mother to her children and that they would be better off with her gone.
The victim stated that during the attack, Forde would stop briefly to drink protein shakes and then throw the remainder of the drink at her.
Forde then grabbed a nearby sheet and wrapped it around her throat, strangling her. She felt like she was going to pass out. She feared that he was going to kill her.
After hours of repeated beatings, she was able to convince him that she would not call the police if they could go out somewhere together. As soon as he opened the back door of the business, she ran away and called for help. Forde fled in a friend’s vehicle.
Over the course of the attack, the victim sustained numerous injuries. Her eyes were bruised and swollen and would not fully open. Her eyelid was purple. She had swelling to her lip and cheek, cuts on the bridge of her nose, swelling on her forehead, bruising on her scalp, and red marks on her throat and upper chest consistent with being strangled. She also had scratches on her lower legs, bruising in multiple spots on her arms, and lacerations from fighting back.
Inside the business, officers found bloody tissues in the trash as well as blood on the sheet used to strangle her. Blood spatter was on the floor, laundry basket, countertops, and table. There was also blood splatter on the front of her dress.
The victim said she had briefly dated Forde for about three months before she broke up with him due to relationship issues. She also stated that this was not the first time he had assaulted her. She told police that Forde also works downtown at The Portal. She was not sure where he currently resides.
EMS arrived on the scene and treated the victim. She refused transport to the hospital. She was provided access to numerous resources to keep her safe and was instructed on how to obtain a temporary protective order.
Due to the physical evidence and injuries to the victim, Forde was charged with aggravated assault, burglary in the 1st degree, and battery. Forde has prior charges for assault not related to this incident.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
At the time and date above, I was dispatched to 311 W Broughton St. in response to a domestic situation.
As I was approaching the scene, dispatch advised that the complainant, a W/F later identified as Ms. [VICTIM #1], was waiting at the corner of W. Broughton St. and Jefferson in a pink dress. When I arrived on scene I approached a W/F matching Ms. [VICTIM #1]’s description. It was immediately apparent that Ms. [VICTIM #1] had substantial bruising and injuries to her eyes, face, and upper body. She told me that her ex-boyfriend, Mr. Christopher Forde, had forced his way into her place of business, Sweet Water Spa, and attacked her over the course of 3 hours.
She told me she believes Mr. Forde gained entry to Sweet Wat Spa by forcing his way in through the rear of the business. She told me the door locked but if pulled hard enough would open. She told me Mr. Forde had forced entry in this manner before. With consent, I pulled the locked door and was able to get it to open without unlocking it.
She said she was in the laundry room when Mr. Forde burst into the room. He began yelling obscenities at Ms. [VICTIM #1] while hitting her in her face, arms, and upper body. She said she fell to the ground and Mr. Forde continued to hit her. She said during the attack Mr. Forde would stop to drink protein shakes and then throw the remainder in her face and her hair. She said he took a steak knife that had been in the room and threatened to kill her and himself before throwing the knife on the floor. She said he continued to call her a sl*t and a wh*re and that she had always been a bad mother to her children and they would be better off with her gone.
She said he took a sheet present in the room and wrapped it around her throat while she was on the floor and strangled her with it. She said he choked her for less than a minute and she did not lose consciousness but felt as if she were about to pass out. She was unsure if the strangulation made it difficult to breathe or if she was hyperventilating due to fear. She said he stopped strangling her, slapped her in the face, and then stomped on her head as she lay on the floor. When asked what she believed would happen during the strangulation she replied that she believed he was going to kill her.
She said he would not let her leave the laundry room, keeping her there against her will. She said that after 3 hours she convinced him she would not call the police if they could go out somewhere together. She said he then made her clean up the laundry room and they left. She said when she got out the back door she ran and called the police. Mr. Forde got into a silver sedan owned by his friend, [REDACTED], and drove off.
I observed Ms. [VICTIM #1]’s left eye was bruised and swollen, preventing the eye from fully opening. The upper eyelid was fully purple in color. Her right eye had bruising under her bottom eyelid near the nose. She had swelling in her bottom lip. The most pronounced swelling was in the left corner of the lower lip, which had bruising. She had bruising and swelling in her left cheek. There were cuts on the bridge of her nose. She had red marks on her cheek and forehead. She had swelling on the right part of her forehead. She had red marks on her throat and upper chest. The red marks on the neck were consistent with injuries sustained when being choked. Bruising was located on the scalp of her head.
She had bruising to the back of her right arm near her armpit. She had bruises inside her right bicep and on the exterior of her right forearm. The injuries to the right forearm are consistent with injuries sustained when fending off an attack. She had bruises and scratches on the back of her left arm. She had bruising on her right elbow. She had scratches on the shoulder blades on both sides of her body. She had minor scratches to the back of her neck. There were minor scratches on her lower legs.
Bloody tissues were located in the trash in the laundry room. Blood was present on the sheets Ms. [VICTIM #1] stated were used to choke her. Blood was also located on the floor, a nearby laundry basket, countertops, and tables throughout the room. Blood splatter was located on the wall behind the laundry basket. Blood was present on the front of Ms. [VICTIM #1]’s dress.
Ms. [VICTIM #1] told me she lived with Mr. Forde for approximately 1 month but she does not know where Mr. Forde currently resides. She told me he works the night shift at Portal at 408 W. Broughton St. She said she dated him for 3 months before breaking up with him due to relationship issues. She told me this is not the first time he has physically attacked her.
EMS arrived on scene and checked Ms. [VICTIM #1]’s vitals. She refused transport to the hospital. Ms. [VICTIM #1] was read DVA Lethality and Non-Lethal Strangulation. Ms. [VICTIM #1] Screened into Safe Shelter but refused. Ref Ofc. Blake’s supplemental report for additional details. a Supervisor was notified of the incident.
DV detectives did not respond to the scene. Ms. [VICTIM #1] was provided a CRN card and instructions on how to obtain a copy of the report. Ms. [VICTIM #1] was informed of the temporary protective order process and how to apply.
[End of Narrative]
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