Man accused of raping and beating woman chased away by neighbor with machete

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A Springfield man is accused of brutally beating and sexually assaulting a woman.

Orlando Brown is charged with aggravated domestic battery, unlawful restraint, criminal sexual assault, and other charges.

On February 2, Springfield police were called to the 1300 block of North 13th St. around 10 p.m. when someone reported a naked woman was at the door asking for help. They said a man was trying to drag her away.

The witness said he grabbed a machete and confronted Brown, causing him to run away.

Witnesses said they saw him stomping on the woman's face and choking her.

They told officers Orlando Brown was seen running towards the Capitol Plaza Apartments. Officers saw him go into the apartments and took him into custody.

Springfield police said the victim had multiple injuries to her face, swollen eyes, burst blood vessels, and what appeared to be shoe prints on her cheeks. They said she was shaking and crying. She told police Brown raped her, hit her with a belt, slammed her head into walls, and stomped on her face.

She said Brown called a coworker while he was sexually assaulting her and invited the man over. She said the man laughed, turned him down, and hung up the phone. Police said Brown later called that same coworker asking him to pick him up because he was going to get arrested, but the coworker refused.

Police said a search of Brown's phone confirms calls were made during the time of the sexual assault.

In charging documents, police said Brown admitted to sexually assaulting the victim and said he became angry that she was sad about one of her children's fathers passing away.

Brown said he and the victim had been together for six years and share one child together.

He said the victim escaped the apartment twice, but he caught her and brought her back.

Springfield police have records of domestic batteries of Brown attacking the same victim multiple times since 2024.

A preliminary hearing on his current charges in this arrest is set for February 19.

Brown was denied pretrial release.

Decatur officials outline plan to strengthen neighborhoods, economy

Investigation finds video of moments suspect fires deadly shots in Decatur shooting

Macon County Sheriff's deputy resigns following DUI citation