Pimp Gets 30 Years for Beating Girlfriend, 19, to Death in Pittsburgh Community

A 22-year-old man who forced his girlfriend into prostitution was convicted in Fulton County court Thursday on charges of beating her to death because she shorted him $40.

Lawrence Woods was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in the beating death of 19-year-old Elijah McDrew, according to District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr.

Woods plead guilty in court on Wednesday to killing Elijah McDrew in the on Feb. 19, 2010.

According to a statement from Howard, McDrew was beaten to death after Woods had confronted the woman about money she had recently earned for him.

Upset that she was short $40, Woods began beating her on the front porch of a home on Arthur Street where she worked. She was able to escape, according to the D.A.'s news release, but Woods chased her, in his vehicle and then on foot, for several blocks.

When he was able to corner her on a sidewalk, Woods punched McDrew again—knocking her to the ground and then kicking and pummeling her with his fists so severely that she lost all brain activity.

Hearing the approaching police sirens, Woods fled the scene on foot, leaving McDrew's lifeless body on the ground. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead upon arrival.

Woods orchestrated several "anonymous" inquiries to the hospital and police to check on the victim’s health status and whether she had named an attacker, according to the D.A.'s release.

He was arrested several days later after being positively identified via his driver’s license, which was left in the car he abandoned at the scene.

According to a report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Woods had been in and out of the Fulton County Jail since 2007, records show. Previous charges have included murder, battery, armed robbery, cocaine possession, carrying a concealed weapon and theft by receiving.