When Love Hurts

Disclaimer: All persons are innocent until proven guilty. An incident in 2019 involving a local man using a crowbar toward his ex-girlfriend during an altercation led to a guilty verdict following a recent trial. On August 3, 2019, Anthony L. Willis was found guilty of Attempted Second Degree Murder against the female victim after he was accused of assault that led to multiple injuries to the victim. In December 2019, Monroe Police were called to the Aurora Trailer Park on Desiard Street about a female assault. When officers arrived, they were advised that as the victim was leaving her residence, Willis, who was in a past relationship with the victim, approached her from behind and just started hitting her with a crowbar on her head, back, and lower areas of her body. Police say that the victim could stand up and began to struggle as she managed to escape from Willis to a neighbor's home, but witnesses said the victim fell near her vehicle as Willis attacked her again. According to police, the victim was able to activate the vehicle's horn in an attempt to scare Willis to make him leave her alone. Willis fled, and she was found with injuries to her head and face. The victim was transported to a hospital, and an arrest warrant was obtained for Willis' capture. He would be captured by authorities and charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Battery. Now that the trial is over, officials said Willis is scheduled to be sentenced on October 31, 2023.