WAR — A McDowell County man is behind bars after allegedly attacking a woman during a violent domestic incident Saturday afternoon in War.
According to the West Virginia State Police, Senior Trooper R.L. Morgan was dispatched around 4:41 p.m. on October 4, 2025, to a report of a domestic disturbance and possible overdose at a home on Rocket Boys Drive.
Callers told McDowell County 911 that a woman was lying in the road with a head injury and that a man had been seen fighting with her before dragging her back into the residence.
Troopers said the suspect, Stuart Baker, was described as wearing a blue shirt and green shorts and was later spotted walking through War shortly after the incident.
When Trooper Morgan arrived, members of the War Fire Department were already treating the woman. Morgan found Baker sitting in the passenger seat of a blue Ford F-150 nearby. The trooper noted blood on Baker’s right hand and shorts and detained him for questioning.
At the scene, officers spoke with the victim’s mother, Charlene Hicks, who said she heard her daughter screaming for help. Hicks told investigators that when she entered the apartment, she saw Baker pinning her daughter, identified as Mandy Phillips, to a bed and beating her.
Phillips told police Baker threw a 32-ounce drink at her and repeatedly punched her in the face while ignoring her pleas to stop. Trooper Morgan observed that Phillips was bleeding from her left ear and had blood on her clothing. She declined medical transport but told officers Baker also threatened to have her killed.
Baker was arrested and charged with domestic assault and domestic battery. He was taken to the West Virginia State Police Detachment for processing before being transported to the McDowell County Holding Unit to await arraignment.
Authorities said the victim was advised on how to obtain a domestic violence protection order.