A 19-year-old Butler man is charged with killing an unborn child.

Damien M. Large was arraigned Tuesday night on charges of homicide of an unborn child and aggravated assault to an unborn child, among other charges in the alleged beating of the mother.

These are the latest charges filed against Large, stemming from his alleged week-long abuse of a 33-year-old woman who was his girlfriend at the time.Large was arrested Jan. 3 and placed in Butler County Prison, where he remains. In the first case, Large's bail was set at $50,000, but the possibility of bail was denied with his latest charges.In the case filed in January, Large was charged with felony aggravated assault and strangulation, among other charges. None of those charges involved the unborn child, and there was no mention of the pregnancy in the affidavit with those documents.According to those reports, the woman told police Large had beaten her over the course of a week, which included choking her until the point of losing consciousness and a beating with a hammer.“(The victim) stated that Large also threatened to kill her numerous times over the past week,” said the investigating officer.Police said during Large's arrest, they found a claw hammer tucked into his waistband.According to a Butler Township police news release Wednesday, Large's girlfriend was 36 weeks pregnant when she was assaulted Christmas Day in a motel room.“The assault led to the death of the unborn child,” police said.Separate charges were filed along with a new affidavit describing the alleged Dec. 25 beating.According to Tuesday's charging documents, Large became angry with the victim after he asked her to get him a cigarette. Police said the victim was unable to find one, which began an argument between the two.According to documents, Large pinned the pregnant woman to the bed and choked her until she blacked out.“When (the victim) came to, Large began yelling at her, telling her to shut up or I'll kill you,” the investigator said. “Large then began to punch (the victim's) stomach, approximately four times, with a closed fist.”According to documents, after the punches, Large got off the victim, who said she had pain in her stomach, and the baby was not moving. The documents said the woman's water broke, and there was blood.The victim called motel staff, who called 911.“(The victim) was transported to Butler Memorial Hospital by Butler Ambulance Service, and was accompanied by Large,” police said.Police said a cesarean section surgery was performed, and the baby was reported dead at 1:51 a.m. Dec. 26. Acute placental abruption was listed as the cause of death.Police said a forensic pathologist was consulted and advised the death appeared consistent with an assault causing the abruption, which is when the placenta becomes detached from the uterine wall.A date for a preliminary hearing has not been set in the new case.For the charges filed in January, the case has proceeded to the Butler County Common Pleas Court, and Large has a status conference April 7.

Damien Large