Edwin Lucas accused of raping, assaulting his pregnant girlfriend

A 31-year-old West Ashley man beat and raped his pregnant girlfriend, threatened her children, and forced her to write a note absolving him in case of her death, Charleston police said.

The woman, who is three months pregnant, told police she escaped from the suspect while he was sleeping early Thursday and went to a residence nearby. She was treated for cuts and bruises and taken to a hospital, a police report said.

Edwin Lucas of Etiwan Avenue is charged with kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, police said. He is being held at the Cannon Detention Center.

According to the report, an officer was dispatched about 6:58 a.m. Thursday to 2408 Etiwan Avenue in regards to a dispute. Lucas, whom the report said smelled of alcohol, met the officer there and stated he and his 23-year-old girlfriend were having an altercation. When asked to elaborate, Lucas became silent, the report said.

The girlfriend was located at a nearby residence, and told the officer she had been assaulted since late Wednesday and into Thursday. She said that when she came home Wednesday, she made her boyfriend a plate of food, which he did not like and threw at her, striking her in the leg. She told him she wanted to leave him, and to raise their child without him, after which he hit her, according to the report.

She cleaned up the mess and began cooking more food for him, the report said.

According to the report, the woman said she was sexually assaulted and punched so hard she fell to the floor and started to bleed. The suspect picked her up by her hair and struck her in her face and stomach, put her in a headlock and choked her until she began to black out, the report maintains.

The woman said the man threatened to kill her children, ages 2, 3 and 5, and forced her to write a letter “that stated that she was having problems with another man.” The woman said that as she wrote the letter, “if he saw any wording or facts he disapproved of, he would strike her in the head and force her to correct the letter.”

The purpose of the letter was “to provide false leads to law enforcement personnel because he was going to kill her and wanted to avoid detection,” the report states.

The report said police found a note in the victim’s handwriting in Lucas’ clothing, and took it into evidence.