BOZEMAN – A Bozeman man is facing a $100,000 bail after he allegedly strangled and assaulted his girlfriend on Wednesday.
Corey J. Murphy, 32, was charged with strangulation of a partner or family member and assault with a weapon, both felonies, in Gallatin County Justice Court on Thursday morning.
According to charging documents, Bozeman Police officers responded to a report at approximately 10:30 p.m. April 3, 2019, of a domestic disturbance in Bozeman on Fen Way. Neighbors reported hearing yelling, banging and screaming. When the neighbors later looked through a window, they reportedly saw a woman lying on the floor of the living room, unconscious. As officers arrived on the scene, the lights in the residence reportedly went out.
Officers attempted to make contact with Murphy and the woman but got no response at the front door. After a forced entry, Murphy was handcuffed and secured in a patrol car.
The woman was located reportedly unconscious in an upstairs bedroom. Officers observed fresh injuries and significant swelling to the left side of her face, with blood around her mouth and nose.
The woman told officers that Murphy had begun hitting her “a couple” of times in the face with his fist. She later said she believed Murphy had punched her 9 or 10 times and she had lost consciousness during the attack. She also showed officers a laptop computer that Murphy reportedly struck her with – officers observed that it had a broken screen.
When questioned, Murphy denied any altercations taking place and that he and his girlfriend had been “in bed cuddling” when police arrived. Eventually, Murphy admitted to getting into an argument with his girlfriend, and they often “fight like cats in a bag” but it wasn’t physical.
The woman was transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital where she told officers that she had been in a relationship with Murphy for several months. After spending the day together, Murphy became verbally abusive toward her and began calling her names and saying mean things to her. When the pair arrived home, Murphy began hitting her in the face and then hit her across the left side of her face with a laptop. When law enforcement arrived, Murphy allegedly told her to “shut the f### up” and covered her face with a duvet and began to strangle her. She told officers during the incident, she tried to call her dad, but Murphy took the phone and broke it.
Both of Murphy’s felony charges could result in $50,000 fines.
The strangulation charge as a maximum of up to 5 years in prison. The assault with a weapon charge can go up to 20 years in prison.
He cannot go within 1,500 feet of the victim or the building she is in. He also cannot have any weapons of any kind.
His next court appearance is set for 8 am on April 19.
