Man accused of severely beating wife

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

LUBBOCK, Texas -- An Oklahoma woman is in a Texas hospital after a confrontation with her ex-husband, police said.

Arthur Swagger is accused of severly injuring his ex-wife in a Lubbock, Texas motel.

Joy Swagger checked into the motel with her ex-husband about a month ago. The couple is from the Tulsa area and their divorce was finalized about a month ago.

Swagger called 911 early Monday morning and told dispatchers that: "I came up the door, she said something and I turned around and kinda elbowed her and broke her nose. She slid into the...face first and stuff and kinda like be-bop bopped on the shower and she's got bruises everywhere and her head's swelling."

Police said they don't buy Arthur Swagger's story. Investigators think Arthur Swagger beat his ex-wife, possibly with a telephone, until she was unconscious, the sexually assaulted her, and gave her 5 year old son a black eye.

Arthur Swagger faces charges of aggravated assault, injury to a child, sexual assault and violation of an out of state VPO, police said.

"Without doubt, she was assaulted and did suffer severe injuries to the point we consider them critical and life threatening," Police Capt. Greg Stevens said. "We are working the case like a homicide call out, not because we believe the victim will die but in case that happens and certainly because of the extent of her injuries we are treating it very seriously."

Police have not talked to Joy Swagger about what happened. She's unable to speak because of her injuries.

Police said the 5-year-old boy and the Swaggers' 3-year-old daughter were placed in protective custody.