By Austin L. Miller
Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 12:39 a.m.

DUNNELLON - Authorities arrested a 53-year-old woman Monday and accused her of hitting her live-in boyfriend in the face with a piece of raw meat because he wanted a roll instead of the sliced bread she served him.

Elsie Egan was booked on a charge of abusing a disabled adult, according to officials.

Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Carmen Gallup went to the 19000 block of Southwest 93rd Loop on Monday night to investigate a call about a domestic disturbance.

Egan told the deputy that her boyfriend of 16 years needed to see a doctor.

The victim told the official that Egan had struck him in the head with a 10- to 16-ounce steak and slapped him in the face with the uncooked meat.

The man said his girlfriend threw a bag of clothing at his bad leg.

The confrontation began when Egan wanted the victim to eat sliced bread and he wanted a roll.

When he refused, she attacked him with the steak, the sheriff's report said.

Though Egan denied hitting her boyfriend with the steak, she told the official repeatedly that she slapped him "so that he can learn," the report noted.

Officials say the victim, 49, is disabled, has terminal cancer and is unable to call for assistance except through an electronic voice device.

He also has a left leg injury and has limited mobility due to swelling.

He claimed Egan has hit him in the past.

The victim declined medical attention.

Officials say he had slight redness on his right cheek and on the top of his head.

Egan was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was booked about 11:30 p.m.

Egan was being held in lieu of $2,500 bail and ordered not to have any contact with the victim.

She told the Star-Banner that she did not hit her boyfriend. She said she just "tapped him once in the head" with her hand.

Egan said they were drinking - she consumed port wine while the victim drank rum - for a few hours. She admitted that the quarrel was over bread, and claimed her boyfriend was going to smash the bread so she told him to stop.

"He's lying. I never hit him," she said through tears.