A homeless man was arrested today and accused of strangling a e\woman in the woods off Oelsner Street in New Port Richey.

 Robert Kelly, 54,  struck the woman, who is his domestic partner,  about the face and head Thursday evening, according to an arrest report from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Then he grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, choking her.

Then he fled.  He later returned to the scene and admitted to the altercation. He cooperated with deputies and was taken into custody. The arrest report says he and the woman had been drinking at the time of the incident.

The woman suffered severe pain, contusions and lacerations to the head and face.

Kelly was charged with battery by strangulation and was booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail. He remained in jail Friday.