Pasco man allegedly raped, beat woman for several years

A Pasco man is accused of raping and beating a woman, and sending threatening text messages about plans to squeeze the life out of her and being in control.

The woman recently reported the alleged abuse by Paul M. Gillum, but said it’s been going on for several years.

It escalated to the point where she moved out of her own home and into a women’s shelter so he wouldn’t be able to find her, according to court documents.

Gillum, 44, was charged Thursday in Benton County Superior Court with second-degree rape, second-degree assault with domestic violence and felony harassment with domestic violence.

He has a hearing scheduled Nov. 18.

The woman is not named under a Herald policy not to identify people who report being sexually assaulted.

She contacted police on Nov. 11 and said Gillum first raped her in 2012 when he was drunk, court documents said. She recalled Gillum threw her on the ground, kicked her and forced himself on her, and that she had told him “no” several times.

Then in October of this year, the woman said she was doing yard work when she looked up to see Gillum standing there. He made accusations against her, slapped her across the face and said he was “going to teach her a lesson” before he tore off her clothes and raped her, court documents said.

The woman acknowledged that she didn’t report either sexual assault to law enforcement, but said she told her therapist about the recent incident, documents said.

Deputy Prosecutor Anita Petra wrote in the probable cause affidavit that when the woman was describing the October incident, she became physically ill and had to use the bathroom.

Gillum allegedly approached the woman while she was trick-or-treating with her kids on Halloween, grabbed her by the neck and said he was going to kill her while using a derogatory name.

The woman said she could not breathe, as his hands were around her neck.

She was at a children’s birthday party a week later when she went outside and found Gillum standing by her car. He pushed her to the ground and proceeded to punch her, court documents said.

The following day, she was in her driveway when Gillum grabbed her by the arm, took her to the ground and punched and kicked her in the face, documents said.

He allegedly repeated his desire to kill her.

When seeking help at a shelter a few days later, the woman agreed to have pictures taken of what’s described as “substantial bruising on her body and arm.”

She gave investigators at least 16 text messages that she believes were sent by Gillum. The obscenity-laced messages include details of things that happened during the alleged rapes.

“I will be satisfied to watch the life leave your eyes,” said one message.

“You aren’t better than me. I own you,” another message said. “I will slit your throat and watch you struggle to breathe. You will fight for air and die in fear.”

Gillum has been in the Benton County jail since his arrest Monday. Bail is set at $250,000.

This story was originally published November 17, 2016 at 8:02 PM with the headline "Pasco man allegedly raped, beat woman for several years."