Gholson domestic abuse victim thought she was going to die

Lindy Nolan, 31, of Gholson, who’s recovering after a brutal beating Sunday that led to her husband’s domestic violence arrest, says she thought she was going to die.

"I thought before that he was going to kill me I figured he'd be the death of me for sure but I really felt like I was going to die the other night I really thought it was the end," she said in an interview Tuesday.

Her husband, Donald Clint Cargill, 35, remains in the McLennan County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling more than $550,000, charged with continuous violence against a family member, unlawful restraint, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and assault/family violence in violation of a protective order.

McLennan County deputies found Nolan Sunday with black and swollen eyes, a swollen and bruised nose and multiple bruises on her face and body.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Cargill attacked her as he was driving her home from his sister’s house.

Cargill, the affidavit says, “Started punching her in the face with his fist and then started kicking her when he was able to take his foot off the pedal.”

"My head was bouncing off the window and blood was splattering everywhere so when he got a chance he'd take his foot off the accelerator and kick me because his hands hurt so bad from hitting me so hard,” Nolan said.

Nolan said she begged him to stop and even offered to reconcile with him after telling him weeks earlier that they were finished as a couple.

“I did whatever I had to do to save my life I told him whatever he wanted to hear,” she said.

He refused to take her home or let her out of the truck and said he was “killing her tonight” and that “she is dead,” the affidavit said.

He eventually drove Nolan back to his sister’s house and made her take a shower to wash off the blood, the affidavit says.

After he fell asleep, she called her mother to pick her up, the affidavit said.

The beating was the third to which she’d been subjected in the past year.

The last time was in January, when her husband was arrested and charged, the affidavit said.

"I used to blame myself because he used to mentally make me believe it was my fault that all this happened but it isn't. I understand that now,” Nolan said.

She hopes her experience will serve as an example for other women in abusive relationships.

"Get out, definitely get out any chance you get and get out because it doesn't get any better or gets worse,” she said.

Domestic violence isn’t rare.

McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna’s set up a family violence unit to deal with such cases.

“Victims in these cases are not like somebody they got robbed,” he said.

“They’re very attuned, they know the individuals who are perpetrating on them they been in love with them."

“We're going to make sure that justice is swift that justice is strong,” he said.

“We will make sure that it is fair as always but we're not going to tolerate that here."

Waco Family Abuse Center Kathy Reid praised Nolan for her courage in stepping forward to tell her story.

“She’s going to be a survivor,” Reid said.

Nolan, a mother of two, says she sees a silver lining in the brutal attack.

"I'm blessed yes I'm blessed that I made it through it I'm here for a reason."

"I'm ready to get on with my life and not have to worry and looking over my shoulder all the time I know that me and my kids are safe,” she said.