Va. woman, 28, accused of beating boyfriend, 77, with his own cane

A 28-year-old Bedford County woman has been charged with beating her 77-year-old boyfriend with his own cane, according to Bedford authorities.
William Herchenrider of the 1600 block of Rock Haven Road in Goode suffered severe injuries and was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Kristina N. Pongracz, identified by Herchenrider as his girlfriend, has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding. She is being held at Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Bedford.
Authorities said deputies responded to a disturbance at Herchenrider's home at 10 p.m. Tuesday and found Herchenrider lying on his bedroom floor next to a walking cane. He was covered in blood and had several lacerations. Deputies also found Pongracz lying on the floor next to him.
Herchenrider told investigators Pongracz had beat him and then passed out after drinking too much, according to the Bedford sheriff's office.