Dolphins defensive end Phillip Merling won't face aggravated battery charges for allegedly beating his pregnant girlfriend in May.
The Broward State Attorney's office announced Tuesday that the felony charges against the 25-year-old Merling were dropped this week after the unidentified girlfriend moved to her parent's home in South Carolina and won't be coming back to testify.
"Despite extensive efforts by the State Attorney’s Office and local law-enforcement personnel in South Carolina, we were unable to serve a subpoena to have the victim return to Florida and testify against her boyfriend," State Attorney's Office spokesman Ron Ishoy said in a statement.
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Merling was arrested May 27 at his Weston home. A 911 call of the incident revealed Merling's pregnant fiancee barricaded herself in the bathroom to get away from Merling, who is heard telling the woman to hang up the phone.
"Please come help me," the woman screams at the 911 operator. "His name is Phillip Merling. He hit me about five times in my face. Please help, he's way bigger than me."
Merling was later released on bond.
Just a couple months after the alleged attack, Merling suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury, and was sidelined for the season.
