Staff Report

Maria Isabel McDonald

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse woman was recently arrested after allegedly battering a pregnant woman.

Maria Isabel McDonald, 53, 712 E. Rose Lane, Syracuse, is charged with domestic battery to a pregnant woman, a level 5 felony; domestic battery with a child under 16 present, a level 6 felony; and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor.

On July 31, a Syracuse Police officer responded to a battery report. Upon arrival at the scene, the officer spoke with a man who witnessed the incident.

According to court documents, the man said that earlier in the day, he was boating with several people, including McDonald. While on the boat, a verbal altercation started, which then turned physical.

After this incident, the group traveled back to Syracuse in a vehicle. While traveling, McDonald battered the woman again and attempted to fight with a man in the vehicle. During the investigation, the officer spoke with two witnesses and McDonald, who all agreed that these events occurred. A child was also present during the altercation.

The officer noticed red marks on both sides of the woman’s neck, as well as small scrapes on the lower area of each of her legs. Officers attempted to meet with McDonald at her home but were unable to make contact at that time.

On Aug. 4, the officer contacted the woman who was battered by McDonald to obtain more details about the incident. The woman said she was on a boat when an argument started and eventually, McDonald began physically attacking a man. The woman stepped between them to stop the fight when McDonald allegedly grabbed her neck and hair, causing the scratches on her neck.

McDonald and the woman fell and wrestled until McDonald was pulled off of her.

The woman said there was not another altercation again until the group entered a vehicle to travel back to a Syracuse residence. While in the vehicle, McDonald tried to attack the man again.

The woman told the officer that she is pregnant, and that McDonald was told about the pregnancy while the group was on the boat together.

For this case, McDonald was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Sept. 6, with an $11,000 surety and cash bond.