A 27-year-old man who beat and attempted to strangle his pregnant ex-wife in front her three children in Surprise has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Garrett Headrick had pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges prior to his sentencing, which was announced Tuesday by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

In October 2024, Headrick drove from California to the Surprise residence of his ex-wife. The woman and her three children were leaving for a soccer game when Headrick approached them with a metal bar, forced them back inside and assaulted the victim in front of the children, according to an MCAO release.

“Headrick repeatedly struck and restrained the victim while threatening to kill her. At one point, he dragged her into the kitchen and armed himself with a knife while strangling her,” the release stated.

Police arrived, forced their way in and found Headrick on top of the victim with his hands around her throat and slamming her head into the ground.

Headrick was arrested. The victim was taken to a hospital with cuts to her hands, scratch and cut marks around her neck and a brain bleed on the back of her head.

Headrick pleaded guilty to attempt to commit second-degree murder, kidnapping and stalking.