A Kunkletown man has been charged after he attacked his daughter with a machete and threatened to cut her stomach out.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper John Heffner of the Pennsylvania State Police Lehighton barracks in the case against David Van Horn:

At 5:31 a.m. Tuesday, Heffner was dispatched to a home in the 100 block of Elderberry Lane in Eldred Township to investigate a physical domestic.

Upon arrival, Heffner made contact with the victim, and observed her to have recent physical injury to her left forearm in the form of a laceration.

Heffner observed the laceration to be red and about 1 inch long, and also observed there to be redness and swelling above the laceration.

Heffner observed the victim to have recent physical injury to her stomach in the form of a laceration, which was red and about 1 inch long.

The victim told Heffner that her father, Van Horn, 58, got into an argument with her mother at around 5:30 a.m., and was chasing her through the residence with a machete.

The victim said she then attempted to intervene, placing herself between her parents, at which time Van Horn swung the machete at her and struck her left arm, causing the laceration.

The victim said Van Horn yelled at her, stating, “I am going to cut your stomach with this” while holding the machete.

The victim said Van Horn then fled the residence in a pickup truck.

Heffner interviewed the victim’s mother who said that Van Horn was talking to an unknown woman on his cellphone in the bedroom of the residence when she confronted him.

The victim’s mother said Van Horn became irate and grabbed her cellphone, and then picked up a machete and began chasing her around the residence with the weapon when their daughter attempted to intervene.

The victim’s mother said Van Horn then struck their daughter with the machete and then fled the residence in a blue Ford Ranger pickup.

The victim’s mother said that the vehicle belonged to another woman, as she was borrowing the vehicle from the woman, and that she was the only person authorized to use the vehicle.

Trooper Kingsley and Heffner canvassed the area for Van Horn, but couldn’t locate him.

Heffner then returned to the Pennsylvania State Police at Lehighton barracks and had PSP desk personnel run a check to find more information on the vehicle.

The report returned a 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac and then entered the vehicle as stolen.

Van Horn faces charges on two counts of simple assault, and one count each of aggravated assault; terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another; harassment; recklessly endangering another person; theft by unlawful taking; and unauthorized use of motor/other vehicles.

He is currently incarcerated in the Monroe County Prison in lieu of $150,000 monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Dec. 3 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.