Wife of Marine improving after hammer beating

JACKSONVILLE — A friend says a pregnant woman is improving as her Marine husband faces charges of trying to kill her with a hammer.

Authorities say 24-year-old Cpl. Jonathan Gould attempted to kill 26-year-old Erin Prince-Gould, then stabbed himself multiple times to fabricate a break-in at the couple’s home. Investigators have said he confessed to attacking his wife.

Chelsea O’Donnell posted Friday on a Web site devoted to Prince-Gould that doctors removed fluid from Prince-Gould’s brain and talked about her possibly waking up soon. No information was posted about the condition of the child Prince-Gould is carrying.

The site also asks people to donate money to Prince-Gould’s family, from Whitehall, Ohio, to assist with medical bills and travel expenses.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)