---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 5, 1992                   TAG: 9202050364
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

WOMAN, 42, BEATEN; BOYFRIEND, 70, ARRESTED

A Northwest Roanoke woman was in critical condition Tuesday after she was beaten Monday afternoon at her apartment.

Darlene Elizabeth Cooper, 42, had her skull crushed and suffered multiple bruises. Robert E. Patterson, 70, who lived with Cooper and was described as her boyfriend was charged with malicious wounding.

Police arrested Patterson in the Community Hospital waiting room Monday after detectives determined that Patterson's cane matched the type of wounds inflicted upon Cooper.

Patterson was being held in Roanoke jail Tuesday night.

---