Boyfriend Of Beaten Methuen Woman Has Allegedly Assaulted Her Before

METHUEN (CBS) - The boyfriend of a badly beaten Methuen woman has been in trouble with the law before.

Sarah Plazola, 33, was airlifted to a Boston hospital in critical condition on Tuesday.

Initial reports said her live-in boyfriend James McMackin found her and called 911.

Paul Seigel, the victim's uncle, said there has been trouble at the house before.

"Within the last six months or so, her boyfriend evidently beat her up... so the police have had trouble with him before," said Seigel.

Court documents show McMackin has been arrested three times in the last year for assaulting her. All three cases were dismissed because she did not testify.

Records also showed that McMackin was released on bail after one of the incidents and then assaulted his girlfriend again.

McMackin was arrested Tuesday night on an outstanding warrant for owing money to the courts due to one of his prior cases. He has not been charged in Plazola's beating.