Woman testifies about torture in Schoenrock trial
A woman who was reportedly tortured by Aaron Schoenrock in May 2023 testified in his trial Friday and Tuesday.
Schoenrock has been accused of raping the victim, beating her, setting her on fire, forcing her to ingest psychedelic mushrooms and threatening her with a chainsaw after he became afraid her boyfriend was working as an informant for a drug task force investigation.
The victim testified that she had barely slept since May 21, first due to the pain from her physical injuries, then from the psychological scars.
'"I'm constantly exhausted," she told the jury. "On the rare occasion I do fall asleep, I wake up in terror."
The victim identified several tools Schoenrock was accused of using to torment her, including the chainsaw and a gun which was allegedly used to threaten her into writing a fake suicide note.
Defense attorney Meggan Delisi questioned the victim about the sexual assault, asking her if she said "no" during the incident. The victim admitted she did not say no, but did say she had not consented to sex, and that she told Schoenrock multiple times he was hurting her.
Delisi also asked the victim about her activities in the days following May 21. Schoenrock's girlfriend, Jolynn Hirsch, previously testified the victim continued to spend time with them after the torture, even shopping together.
The victim admitted she had continued to be around Schoenrock and admitted to sending him several flirtatious and suggestive text messages. She admitted she did not go to police about her injuries until June 7, three days after Schoenrock was arrested for reportedly stabbing a man.
St. Clair County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Sparling asked the victim about her fear of Schoenrock during redirect.
"Did you feel like you could tell this individual 'no?'" Sparling asked.
"I did not," the victim answered. She went on to explain she was afraid even after Schoenrock was arrested that he would make bail and come looking for her.
Schoenrock's trial is set to continue through the week. He has been charged with assault with intent to murder, torture, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree home invasion, unlawful imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon and three counts of felony firearm use.
The Times Herald does not typically identify the victims of sexual assaults.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Woman testifies about torture in Schoenrock trial
