Nicole Jane Napolitan
A Columbia man is headed to trial on a charge that he beat a young Lancaster city woman who later died.
Michael A. Fulmer Jr. will be tried on a count of misdemeanor assault for the Sept. 30 beating of Nicole Jane Napolitan at her home on Spruce Street, a local magistrate ordered Thursday.
Napolitan, a 2010 McCaskey High School graduate known as "Nicky," became unresponsive that day, several hours after she told police that Fulmer, her ex-boyfriend, had abused her.
A cause of death hasn't been determined.
Napolitan, 20, told officers that Fulmer choked and kicked her, an arrest affidavit shows. Officers reported seeing bruising and bleeding when they came to her house at 4 a.m., the affidavit shows.
Fulmer, 22, was arrested and taken into custody. He had been living with Napolitan for several days, the affidavit shows.
About 12 hours later, with Fulmer behind bars, police and medics were called back to Napolitan's home and found her unresponsive.
Two days later, doctors determined that Napolitan was brain dead, and she was taken off life support.
Investigators have yet to rule why and how she died.
An autopsy was inconclusive, according to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni. Toxicology reports, which are pending, are expected to shed more light on a cause, officials said.
Fulmer hasn't been charged with Napolitan's death.
He waived a preliminary hearing Thursday on the assault charge. By waiving, he doesn't admit guilt but concedes there is enough evidence to warrant the charge.
Fulmer is at Lancaster County Prison on $10,000 bail.
His arrest affidavit indicates that no weapons were used in the alleged beating and that Napolitan was conscious and speaking to officers after it happened.
"(Fulmer) did grab (Napolitan) by the throat and choked her, to the point that the defendant stated that she could not breathe," a police officer writes in the document. "(Fulmer) also kicked (Napolitan) in the right leg."
An autopsy determined that Napolitan didn't die of natural causes.
A benefit concert for Napolitan is being held Nov. 16 at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster city.
