Gruesome details emerged in court this week, in connection to the death of a New York woman, Lizzie Garrow, who was found stabbed to death last month.
According to Madison County Assistant District Attorney Bob Mascari, Lizzie Garrow was found stabbed several times, with the murder weapon, a knife, left near her body, Syracuse.com reports. Garrow’s husband, George McDonald has been charged with her murder.
McDonald pleaded not guilty during a court hearing in Madison County on Wednesday.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Garrow was last seen at a Dunkin’ in Canastota just before noon on September 23. She was reported to be with her husband, McDonald, at the time.
When family members couldn’t get in touch with Garrow, they reported her missing on September 24. Garrow was a “homebody” who doted on her 1-year-old daughter, family members told CNYCentral, and she was six-weeks pregnant with her second child.
“I knew something was wrong. I’m thinking: Where is she? This is unusual,” Garrow’s sister Melissa Bush said. “She’s always online: Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook. But she hasn’t posted anything.”
On September 26, authorities found a body that matched the description of Garrow, around a half-mile away from Dunkin’. According to The Post-Standard, more than 75 officers and trained rescuers from nine different agencies spent the weekend searching for Garrow throughout Madison County.
According to police, Garrow was stabbed to death on September 23, the day she disappeared. Mascari confirmed that Gallow was in the early stages of her second pregnancy.
History of Abuse
Bush, along with Garrow’s other sister, Emily Lloyd, told The Post-Standard that Garrow met her husband on Facebook earlier this year and within months they were married. From almost the beginning, according to the sisters, McDonald was controlling and abusive toward Gallos.
“The next thing you know they were dating. He rushed everything,” Bush said. “The first day, he was like, ‘I want to get married.”
Shortly after marriage, McDonald allegedly told Garrow to get his name tattooed on her body. He reportedly threatened to leave her if she didn’t, so she ended up getting the name “George” tattooed on her arm.
Mcdonald’s possessiveness of his wife turned to physical abuse, according to the sisters. When he promised he would stop, she took him back, but the alleged beatings continued.
The criminal complaint states that McDonald tried to “pull her mouth apart” with his hands, tried to choke her, and hit her in the face. The incident happened on September 7, according to court documents.
During a previous relationship, McDonald beat his ex. He was eventually convicted of assault; police said the victim was the mother of McDonald’s child.
The victim’s mother told authorities she saw McDonald hitting her daughter in the head. He then allegedly attacked the mother when she tried to stop him.
After his conviction, McDonald was sentenced to probation. He met Garrow while still serving out his probation time. She sought a protection order against him after he began physically and emotionally abusing her, according to court documents.
Murder Investigation
Authorities said McDonald initially invoked his right to remain silent but eventually gave “helpful” statements into Garrow’s murder investigation. Mascari said during McDonald’s arraignment that he plans to use the suspect’s statements in court. It’s unclear at this point what McDonald told investigators.
According to arrest records, McDonald is facing the following charges:
- Second-degree murder
- First-degree assault
- Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon
- Criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation
- Aggravated criminal contempt
- First-degree criminal contempt
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[Feature Photo: Elizabeth Garrow/Handout; George McDonald/Police Handout
