Ripley , Jackson County , West Virginia

Disturbing allegations of years of torture and abuse take center stage at a hearing in Jackson County for Peter Lizon.

Lizon is charged with malicious wounding for allegedly shackling, and torturing his wife, Stephanie, for the better part of a decade at their Leroy farm.

Stephanie Lizon says it never happened.

"Is your husband putting chains on you and binding you in the basement?" asks Peter's attorney, Shawn Bayliss.

"Absolutely not," she responded.

Laughing off claims her husband chained, tortured and burned her over a 10 year period, Stephanie took to the witness stand as the prosecution's witness, but defended her husband.

"Has your husband ever intentionally caused you injury?" asked Bayliss.

"Not that I can recall. No," she said.

Stephanie admits she took refuge at a domestic violence shelter in Parkersburg after an argument with her husband when they were returning farm equipment.

"I had an argument with my husband and I wanted to spend some time away," she said. "I didn't want to argue in front of the baby."

A woman she met at the shelter came forward to police with her story. Detailing how Stephanie allegedly told her how Peter bound her, burnt her with a frying pan, crushed her feet with farm equipment, and even caused her to give birth to a still born child while bound in chains.

"The complaint is generated based on a hear-say statement from a third party. There is no eyewitness to any act. There is no statement taken from the alleged victim in this matter," said Bayliss to the judge.

"Did you ever tell anyone you were abused by your husband?" asked Jackson County assistant prosecuting attorney Katie Casto. "No, I did not," Stephanie answered.

Stephanie was shown more than a dozen pictures taken of her injuries while at the shelter. She says they are her, but has explanations for each of the injuries, claiming they are all accidents.

"How did the frying pan, how did it make contact with your back?" asked Casto.

It was an accident. My husband and I were arguing over breakfast and we often get very passionate in our arguments and I often am without a shirt in my own home, which I think is my right. And we collided with each other," Stephanie said.

A shelter manager we were not allowed to show on camera testified Stephanie told her how how husband had burned her with a hot skillet because she improperly prepared a meal. She said Stephanie said he stomped her foot after it was nearly crushed by a farm machine.

"You don't accidentially hit someone multiple times with a steaming hot frying pan," said Casto.

A story police call one of the worst cases of domestic violence they've ever seen, while the alleged victim paints a much different picture.

Lizon's case will now be heard by a grand jury. He's being held on a $300,00 bond.

How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

---

Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.