Winnebago Man Charged After Choking, Threats at Residence

A Winnebago man punched, choked and threatened to kill the victim during a violent confrontation at a Blue Earth County residence, according to charges.

Donald Terrience Thomas III, 37, faces charges of kidnapping to facilitate a felony or flight, kidnapping to commit great bodily harm or terrorize, stalking, felony domestic assault, false imprisonment and threats of violence.

According to the complaint, the victim reported to law enforcement on September 24, 2026, that Thomas had assaulted her that morning at a residence in Blue Earth County. The victim told officers Thomas became upset after she accidentally slammed a door. Thomas grabbed the victim’s face with both hands, pushed her to the floor and punched her in the head three times as she tried to protect herself. He also grabbed her arm hard enough to leave bruises.

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When the victim tried to leave, Thomas physically blocked her path and told her she could not go. Fearing further harm, the victim locked herself in a bathroom for three hours. Before she left for work around noon, Thomas threatened her, saying, “if you report me, you will die.” Officers later observed a raised bump on the back of the victim’s head, bruising on her arms and a scratch on her neck.

The victim also described previous assaults by Thomas, telling police that on September 14, 2026, Thomas choked her at the same residence. The victim recounted a separate incident in May 2026, when Thomas punched her in the face, causing a black eye and significant bruising that lasted for months. After that assault, Thomas told the victim he would urinate on her after putting her to sleep, which she understood as a threat to kill her.

Police attempted to arrest Thomas at the residence after the September 24 report, but no one answered the door. Officers called Thomas and left a voicemail, but he did not respond or show up for a scheduled meeting with police.

The complaint notes Thomas has been convicted of several domestic violence-related offenses in the past 10 years, including violating a no contact order in July 2023, a felony domestic assault conviction in May 2023 and two earlier threats-of-violence cases, one of them convicted in January 2023. He is also charged with felony domestic assault involving a different victim in a separate pending case.

A warrant has been issued for Thomas’ arrest. The complaint states he presents a risk to public safety and is substantially likely not to respond to a summons.