Family: Ex-boyfriend tried to rip out woman's tongue

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana woman is hospitalized after her now ex-boyfriend left her with serious injuries, her family says.

Carleigh Hager, 25, has more than 20 bite marks all over her body, including on her fingertips, as well as injuries sustained from an incident in which her ex-boyfriend, Ryan Cameron, allegedly strangled her and tried to rip her tongue out, said Eric Splichal, Hager's brother-in-law. Cameron, 26, also threw Hager into a door frame, cutting her forehead and breaking the frame, Splichal said.

Hager, of Indianapolis, required emergency surgery to re-attach her tongue in her throat, he said. She's out of intensive care and is in stable condition, but she will require more treatment in the days ahead, he said.

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According to a police report, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a domestic dispute call just after midnight Sunday.

Cameron is being held at Marion County (Ind.) Jail on preliminary charges of battery and strangulation. He is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Amy Ballard, Hager's mother, said it's "hard to put into words" what has happened since Saturday night, but she is confident Hager will pull through.

"It's going to be a long road to recovery, but she is a strong woman from strong stock and we will overcome," said Ballard.

According to the GoFundMe page that was created to help Hager's family with medical expenses, Cameron also is accused of dragging Hager through the house, "leaving a quarter sized opening on her forehead."

Follow Holly Hays on Twitter: @hollyvhays