Woman arrested in attack on boyfriend

N. Hills man says he was abducted, beaten

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A North Hills woman accused of organizing the alleged kidnapping and beating of her boyfriend last month turned herself in Thursday at City Court, Downtown, a Pittsburgh police spokeswoman said.

Court records show charges including attempted homicide, aggravated assault and conspiracy have been filed against Karrie Diaz, 42, of McCandless.

District Judge Jesse Cramer set bail at $250,000. Ms. Diaz was unable to post it and was being held in the Allegheny County Jail. A preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 25.

Police continued to search for two alleged co-defendants, Justin Keller 32, of Bellwood, Blair County, and Ms. Diaz’s brother, Joshua Flick, of Duncansville, Blair County.

The victim, Thomas Markel, 30, of McCandless, told police that he and Ms. Diaz had been living together for two years and that she was the beneficiary of his $400,000 life insurance policy.

On the evening of July 23, Mr. Markel told police, he was leaving a bar on East Ohio Street in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny section when he was struck on the back of the head and knocked unconscious. When he came to, he found himself tied to a chair in a bedroom.

An affidavit in the case said three men untied Mr. Markel, threw him on the bed and beat him with their fists and a purple-