A Joliet woman allegedly tore her pregnant friend's earlobe, kicked her in the stomach and came after her with a meat cleaver, all because the victim took the wrong side in a domestic dispute, police said.
Meghan Lello, 23, was charged with aggravated battery to a pregnant woman Thursday in connection with the vicious physical attack that took place shortly after midnight, Will County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.
Sheriff's deputies were called to Lello's 211 Louis Road home to deal with a fight between Lello and her husband that had spiraled out of control, Hoffmeyer said.
The 24-year-old friend's mistake was to "side with the husband instead of (Lello)," apparently making Lello incensed, she said. That's when the fight became physical.
Lello is accused of tearing the woman's earlobe by pulling her earring off, pushing her to the ground and kicking her in the stomach area, Hoffmeyer said.
When Lello went to the kitchen to retrieve a meat cleaver, the victim escaped to a bathroom and locked herself inside, she said. Lello then tried to break the door by pounding on it with the cleaver, she said.
The victim was taken to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center to be examined and to have her earlobe stiched, Hoffmeyer said. No information was available on the condition of the woman or her unborn child.
Lello's bond was set at $5,000. It hadn't been paid as of 9 p.m. Thursday.
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