William Thomas Parrish III?s family knew he held a woman captive in his grandfather?s Finksburg home.
But no one told police for fear Parrish, 25, would act on his threat to hurt 72-year-old Lawrence Thompson if the woman escaped. “He threatenedto harm his grandfather,” who has a pacemaker, said a family member, who asked o remain anonymous.
“[The woman] stayed there as long as she did to protect him. She was brave for him. We knew she was being physically abused, but [Parrish] wouldn?t let us take her. He wouldn?t let her out of his sight. “We are supporting the girl.”
Parrish forced the woman, 25, whom he has known since junior high, to stay at Thompson?s house in the 2100 block of Bethel Road from Feb. 20 to March 30, according to charging documents.
The red brick house, with lawn ornaments and a birdbath dotting the frontyard, betrayed nothing in that time, neighbors said.
During the victim?s captivity, Parrish tattooed his name on her skin, gagged her with socks, burned and raped her, the documents allege. She told police Parrish threatened harm to her children and other family members, if she didn?t submit.
The woman also said Parrish beat her face, arms, legs, back and chest area with his fists and struck her in the head with a large glass bottle.
“We could see the marks and bruises on her body and on her face,” the family member said.
The woman escaped Friday at around 9 p.m., while Parrish made a purchase inside a Westminster liquor store, police said.
Thompson, who waited with the woman in a vehicle outside, drove her to a residence nearby, said State Trooper Todd Liddick, who aided in Parrish?s arrest Saturday morning.
Police charged Parrish with false imprisonment, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and three counts of malicious destruction of property, Liddick said.
The family members who knew about the woman?s situation will likely not face charges.
“If somebody came forward now and cooperated, they wouldn?t have anything to worry about,” said Deputy Assistant State?s Attorney David Daggett.
Police said Parrish could face additional charges as the investigation continues.
The family said Parrish, who twice has been convicted of second-degree assault, had stayed with his grandfather since Thompson?s wife died two months ago.
“It was only supposed to be for a few days,” the family member said.
Parrish is being held without bail in the Carroll County Detention Center. A court date has not been set.
Staff writer Kelsey Volkmann contributed to this report
