Climate Change Expert Accused Of Choking Fiancée, Dragging Her Around By Hair

A renowned climate change expert and professor at the University of Minnesota has been accused of choking and beating his fiancée to the point that she feared for her life.

Aaron Herbert Doering, 47, was charged on Thursday with felony-level domestic assault via strangulation, according to local ABC affiliate KSTP.

Police were responding to a report of a "domestic assault-in-progress” at a Minneapolis apartment the day after Christmas. The victim claimed Doering assaulted her during an argument, dragging her around the couple’s apartment by her hair, slapping her and choking her so hard she was unable to breathe.

The woman said she feared Doering "would eventually kill her," KSTP reports, citing a criminal complaint.

Officers noted in the complaint that they observed red marks on alleged victim’s fore­head and bruis­ing on her neck.

She also said that it wasn't the first time that Doering assaulted her, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reports.

Before the arrest, Doering was known for his climate change research. In addition to his position on the University of Minnesota faculty, Doering serves as a fellow for the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

As of Thursday, Doering appeared to still be employed with the school; a school spokesperson told the Star Tribune that they were "a­ware of the sit­u­a­tion, and will be re­view­ing the mat­ter.”

Doering was still in jail Friday on $40,000 bail, according to online jail records. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer who can speak on his behalf at this time.

[Photo Credit: Hennepin County Sheriff's Office]