Feb 15, 2019 2 min read

McDonald police filed charges Wednesday against a West Middletown man accused of abusing his wife for nine years, including pointing a gun at her head and threatening to kill her.

The wife of Aaron James Jennings, 33, of 57 W. Main St., first reported the abuse the morning of Dec. 26. She told police she had been abused by Jennings throughout their nine-year relationship.

On Dec. 2, he allegedly came home intoxicated and angry and started shoving her, the woman told police. He allegedly picked her up and slammed her back into the kitchen counter, causing her to have rib and back contusions.

She tried to gather her belongings to leave the residence, according to the criminal complaint, but Jennings wouldn’t allow her to go. He allegedly pointed a gun at her head, cocked the hammer back and threatened to kill her.

Jennings allegedly told her, “I will feel bad for killing you, so I would have to kill myself.”

He also warned her against calling the police, telling her that he would “make a bloody massacre,” if police showed up, the complaint said.

The woman told police that wasn’t the first time Jennings pointed a gun at her. She told police that when she was pregnant with their second child, he had choked her. She said he also allegedly slapped her and slammed her on the ground in front of their children.

She also told police she was afraid to get another protection from abuse order against him because the last time she got one, he allegedly became “more violent,” the complaint said.

On Jan. 16, Jennings allegedly contacted his wife by phone while she was at work in McDonald. When she heard him crying, she asked if he had received the divorce papers she had filed.

He allegedly told her that if he does receive divorce papers, he will hurt her.

Jennings was charged with terroristic threats, two counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.