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BLOOMINGTON — A Normal man who allegedly tried to strangle a woman because he thought she was the devil was charged Thursday with attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery.

Asa Stover, 20, of the 200 block of College Park Drive, Normal, was formally charged in McLean County Circuit Court, but he did not appear on the video link from the jail because he was combative with officers, officials said.

In a statement offering support for the charges at the hearing, McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers said Stover choked the woman, with whom he was acquainted, shortly after midnight Tuesday at his home. Stover reportedly said he had thought he had killed her.

“He told officers he had been on PCP for several days,” Chambers said.

The woman, who was treated at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, had abrasions around her neck and was unconscious at one point, he said. She told police she felt she was going to die.

Stover reportedly was combative following his arrest, Chambers said, adding, “It took six officers about 10 to 15 minutes to get him into a restraint chair.”

Bond was set at $750,000, so Stover would have to post $75,035 to be released.

He is due in court for an arraignment on March 17.

​Follow Kevin Barlow on Twitter: @pg_barlow

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