Man Allegedly Tortured Girlfriend For 48 Hours Over Protective Order She’d Filed Against Him

An Illinois man has been jailed on a trio of battery charges for allegedly holding his girlfriend captive for two days and torturing her, authorities said. 

Meontay Wheeler, 23, was taken into police custody on Friday at approximately 8:30 p.m. for assaulting the victim, as well as violating a protection order she’d filed against him, according to an arrest report obtained by Oxygen.com. She wasn’t identified by law enforcement.

At the time of the incident, Wheeler had been out on bond related to an additional domestic battery charge, following a separate attack of the same unidentified woman in November, additional court filings show.

Earlier this month, police were dispatched to the woman’s Bloomington, Illinois home after she reported Wheeler had entrapped her for 48 hours at the property, according to additional charging documents obtained by Oxygen.com. The woman, who was seriously wounded in the incident, suffered bruising near her eyes, the State’s Attorney said. Cuts and burn marks were also found on her face.

The victim told investigators that Wheeler had become “angry” and attacked her at knife-point over the pending protection order and past battery charges that had previously been filed against him, charging documents stated. The 23-year-old allegedly demanded that the woman recant her statement in the case.

According to police, Wheeler later dragged the woman outside the home and kicked her in the face, whereupon she fell on a concrete cinder block. He then took her back inside the residence where the alleged torture continued for several hours.

Wheeler, who allegedly put a knife to the victim’s stomach and threatened to kill her, also burnt the woman with hot wax, clubbed her with a curling iron, strangled her, and yanked out “large chunks” her hair, charging documents stated.

According to investigators, Wheeler and the victim were in a dating relationship. The victim alleged that Wheeler had become incredibly violent in recent months and had also accused her of cheating on him.

Wheeler was ultimately charged with aggravated battery including torture, aggravated domestic battery, and aggravated domestic battery including strangulation. He was also charged with two counts of violating a protection order.

“Domestic violence is serious, not only in our community but across America,” Bloomington Police Department public information officer John Fermon told Oxygen.com in a statement on Wednesday. “It takes all of us to look for warning signs, to take action, when necessary, to protect our loved ones and our community, and to support the victims and survivors of domestic violence however we can." 

Law enforcement hasn’t released additional information pertaining to the active case. 

Wheeler has been arrested on aggravated and domestic battery charges several times, dating back to 2018, according to court records.

In November, 2021 he was arrested and charged with domestic battery. The following month he was again taken into police custody on a trio of drug charges, including methamphetamine possession, and for violating a protection order. Both cases remain open.

His past arrests also include burglary, resisting arrest, and driving with a suspended license, additional court documents show. 

Wheeler is being held on a $1,000,000 bond at McLean County detention facility, officials said. His court arraignment is set for Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. A judge has ordered he have no contact with the victim.

Art Feldman, a public defender, who appeared at Wheeler's initial court hearing, declined to comment further when contacted by Oxygen.com on Wednesday.