Man beats, rapes pregnant girlfriend to kill fetus

Gainesville, FL- Police say a 20-year-old man beat, raped and threatened his pregnant girlfriend with a knife in hopes of killing the fetus.

Joseph Bernard J. Combs was arrested Friday on charges that include attempted murder, sexual battery aggravated assault and kidnapping. He remains jailed on a $3.5 million bond.

The the woman had been dating Combs for about a year. She is 19 weeks pregnant.

An arrest report says Combs told her, "I can't let you have my son," before dragging her into the living room where he punched and kicked her in the abdomen. He threatened to slit her throat and raped her.

The victim then ran downstairs to try and escape but was caught by Combs and dragged back upstairs, where he repeatedly punched and slapped her in the face.

Combs then pulled out an approximately 4-inch folding knife and held it to the victim's throat. The victim begged for their life, saying "I'll do anything but don't take my life."

"I want you to do it to yourself," Combs responded before ordering the victim to cut their wrists. Combs specified to do it vertically instead of horizontally "for results."

Combs, while holding the knife to the victim's throat, then removed his pants before putting the knife away. Combs then raped the victim.

Police say the woman suffered extensive bruising in the attack on Friday.