Austin, Texas: Pregnant Woman Attacked by Neighbor, Leading to Early Labor
An East Austin woman, Danielle McNelton, recently shared a shocking story about an attack that caused her to go into early labor. The incident has left both her and her family feeling terrified and unsafe. McNelton said she’s been dealing with harassment from her neighbor, Acie Bouye, for the past two months, which culminated in a violent encounter last Thursday.
The Attack
In a disturbing video recorded by a neighbor, 53-year-old Acie Bouye is seen viciously punching McNelton in the arms, chest, face, and stomach while she lay on the ground, attempting to protect herself. McNelton, who was pregnant at the time, described this as “one of the happiest times of her life” turned horrifically wrong. “I’m afraid for my life,” she stated, expressing her deep concerns about personal safety.
Background of Harassment
According to McNelton, her troubles with Bouye began three months earlier when she was assigned to provide him with home health care. Everything seemed fine initially, until he unexpectedly showed up at her apartment one night. “He came to my house at like 12 o’clock in the morning knocking on my door,” she recounted. She had never disclosed her address to him, making his unannounced visits both confusing and alarming. Over the next month, Bouye’s visits turned into daily occurrences.
McNelton further described her neighbor’s harassing behavior, which included trespassing on her balcony, loitering by her car, and yelling aggressively at her. “Countless times I have just caught him up and down the stairs, pacing and going back and forth past my door,” she said. Feeling increasingly unsafe, McNelton began documenting the incidents and reported them to the police. However, the police response was disappointing, as she felt that her concerns were not taken seriously.
Escalation of Threats
In August, things escalated further when McNelton refused to give Bouye a ride. “He started saying he was gonna kill me. He was gonna shoot me,” she relayed. After this frightening encounter, she contacted her employer to express that she could no longer work with Bouye.
While she filed for a protection order, it unfortunately was denied. Throughout this ordeal, McNelton felt abandoned, citing that the police rarely responded to her calls. “I’m alone. I have no help. Nobody’s gonna help me do anything,” she lamented. To protect herself, she started keeping pepper spray handy.
The Day of the Attack
The violent encounter on September 19 occurred when McNelton and her 4-year-old daughter returned home after shopping. As they exited their car, McNelton heard Bouye yelling at her from a balcony. Attempting to ignore him while on a call with her mother, she was suddenly attacked. “I just froze up, and then he just was like attacking me,” McNelton recollected. She instinctively realized she needed to escape and began running.
Brenda Rose, McNelton’s mother, was alarmed when she heard Bouye shouting, only for the phone call to suddenly drop. “I thought my baby was dead,” she said, fearing for her daughter’s life. Neighbors reacted quickly and called the police, resulting in Bouye’s arrest for assault against a pregnant woman.
Consequences and Ongoing Struggles
McNelton’s family is grappling with the aftermath of the attack. She feels that law enforcement failed them during this distressing situation. “If they had done more to take initiative to help her… It escalated and my daughter could have lost her life,” Rose commented. This attack has raised serious concerns over the protection of vulnerable individuals, especially those who report harassment.
As for McNelton, she faces additional challenges. The apartment complex has indicated that they are working to relocate her and pursue Bouye’s eviction, but financial uncertainties linger. “That just let me know every day is not really promised to you,” McNelton expressed. Currently, Bouye remains in jail on a charge of assault against a pregnant person, with a bond set at $60,000. Protective orders have been filed in the case, but the effects of this ordeal may haunt McNelton and her family for a long time to come.
