A Georgia man was indicted by a federal grand jury this week for allegedly driving to Florida, where he violently attacked and threatened his ex-girlfriend and fatally injured her dog.
Timothy Crawford, 52, faces charges of interstate domestic violence, using a firearm during a violent crime, and interstate stalking.
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Roger B. Handberg said that Crawford drove from Atlanta to Odessa, Florida on December 7, 2023, and unlawfully entered his ex-girlfriend's home around 8 p.m. that evening, armed with a pistol and a stun gun.
When M.B. returned, Crawford repeatedly attacked her by punching, kicking, and using a stun gun, while threatening to end her life and harm her children,
Crawford also fatally shot M.B.'s dog, an eight-pound Maltese, before leaving.
A neighbor who heard the woman’s cries contacted 911. Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies apprehended Crawford and discovered a H&K USP .40 caliber pistol on the dining room table, along with blood throughout the residence, including the garage, laundry room, bedroom, and front entryway.
M.B., the ex-girlfriend, sustained significant injuries, such as extensive bruising to her body, neck, and face, stun-gun burns, a fractured left orbital bone, nose, ring finger/hand, and a head laceration requiring stitches.
The US Attorney stated that Crawford confessed, and investigation of his phone revealed that before the brutal attack, he inquired on a search engine, “do you get the death penalty if you kill a woman.
Crawford could face 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
[Featured image: Timothy Crawford/Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]