Ex-girlfriend reportedly injured, held against will by Texas man
A Texas man was arrested Sunday on multiple felony charges for allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend after a cookout at her residence and holding her prisoner at her home until she was finally able to escape.
Mystur Terry Cephus, 37, a felon who lists a Harker Heights, Texas, address, was taken into custody shortly before noon and charged with possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, second-degree domestic battery and first-degree false imprisonment, each punishable by up to 10 years, first-degree terroristic threatening and aggravated assault on a family or household member, each punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor counts of violation of a no-contact order and interference with an emergency communication device.
Cephus was being held on a zero bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court. He was reportedly convicted of second-degree battery in Jefferson, Louisiana, in 2003. He was previously arrested in Garland County on March 4 for misdemeanor third-degree domestic battery, also involving his ex-girlfriend, which is pending in district court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police responded to a 911 call at a residence on Woodlawn regarding a battery that had occurred earlier that morning.
They spoke to a woman who stated her ex-boyfriend, identified as Cephus, had attacked her and was now following her in an attempt to stop her. She had used a disconnected phone belonging to her son to call 911 because Cephus took her phone.
She stated Cephus and several other friends of hers had been at her house Saturday night for a barbecue. She said everyone left around 2 a.m. Sunday, but Cephus “decided he did not want to leave.” She said he began arguing with her about her texting other people and “became jealous and aggressive.”
She said Cephus took her phone and kept it, preventing her from calling for help. She said he then struck her about the head and face several times and at one point picked her up and slammed her against a wall, causing the wall to break.
She said he began choking her until she lost consciousness. Around 4 a.m., she attempted to escape by running out the front door, but he chased her into the yard and “forcibly dragged her back” into the residence. She said he held her in the kitchen, grabbed a knife from the counter, put it to her throat
and told her if she tried to leave again he would kill her, according to the affidavit.
She said she managed to get away, but cut her hand in the process. She got to the bathroom and stayed there until she was finally able to escape the residence around 8 a.m. and located her son’s cellphone in her vehicle and called 911 while driving.
She drove herself to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for treatment, but noted she forgot to lock her car “in the rush to get to the emergency room.” After her discharge from the hospital, she found Cephus sitting in her vehicle.
Officers responded to the hospital and located Cephus and allegedly found he was in possession of a 9-mm handgun and two fully loaded magazines. He reportedly admitted the gun belonged to him. Cephus’ vehicle was found nearby and he gave officers consent to search it and they reportedly found the victim’s cellphone inside.
Cephus was questioned at the police department after being read his rights and reportedly confirmed he had been at the victim’s residence earlier for the barbecue “get-together” with friends. He noted he and the victim had been in “off and on relationship” since October 2021.
He said after all the others left, he and the victim were drinking and began to argue, but said he didn’t remember “the catalyst for the argument.” He said at one point they switched phones so they could go through them “for a trust thing.”
He said they both “became irritated and jealous” and began “tussling.” Cephus said he didn’t remember everything, but reportedly admitted to holding her by her throat in the hallway and her saying, “I cannot breathe” so he let her go.
He said she went outside at one point when “it was still dark outside” but then came back inside. He claimed she was hitting him in the chest and arms and admitted he slapped her in the face at one point. He said she was “acting aggressive” and had a history of being aggressive with him.
He reportedly stated he “does not try and excuse his actions because of hers.” He also claimed he did not remember having her phone, but he still had it when officers found him.
The affidavit notes a court order was issued on March 5 barring him from contact with the victim after his previous arrest for domestic battery and it was still in effect.