Pa. Head-Gnawing Suspect May Have Been High

Sept. 14, 2012
Authorities suspect the Doylestown man who allegedly gnawed on a woman's head after stripping his clothes and jumping from a second-story window last week may have been under the influence of bath salts.

Sept. 14--Authorities suspect the Doylestown man who allegedly gnawed on a woman's head in Hawley after stripping his clothes and jumping from a second-story window last week may have been under the influence of bath salts.

Richard Cimino Jr., 20, of Doylestown, had "allegedly" taken bath salts prior to the early-morning incident on Friday, said Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards, though that has not yet been confirmed by medical testing.

Cimino remains in Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton recovering from injuries suffered when he jumped from the second-floor window of a vacant home in Hawley on Sept. 7, after he stripped down to his underwear and unsuccessfully tried to break into another nearby home.

By the time he entered the vacant home, Cimino had also taken off his underpants, state police said.

After the jump, Cimino went through the home's garage then noticed two women walking down the street, state police said.

Naked and covered in his own blood because of the fall, Cimino approached the two women -- Ann Monaghan and Nancy Dean-Corino, both of Hawley -- and tackled Dean-Corino, according to state police.

Bleeding all over her, Cimino "began to gnaw" at Dean-Corino's head, all while "screaming like an animal," according to a state police press release.

The two women managed to escape and call police. Responding troopers found Cimino laying in the road covered in blood with severe injuries.

When Cimino -- who state police described as acting delusional and confrontational -- lunged at a trooper, another trooper deployed a stun gun, though he continued to act aggressively, even punching an emergency medical technician treating his injuries before he was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton.

State police later filed two counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault, indecent exposure and criminal mischief; three counts of burglary; and one count each of criminal trespass and defiant trespassing against Cimino.

As of Thursday, Cimino remained in GCMC where he was listed in good condition, said Wendy Wilson, hospital spokeswoman.

Edwards said Cimino had not yet been arraigned as he remained hospitalized.

[email protected], @domalleytt

Copyright 2012 - The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

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