AP PHOTO POLICE ESCORT: Raymond A. Wood, 37, of Lyman is led from Biddeford District Court Thursday after pleading guilty to amassault charge against Bessie Selek. Woman told f friends she feared her boyfriend LYMAN (AP) - Bessie Selek told friends and co-workers that her boyfriend abused her and she was afraid of him. She even wrote a letterato court officials detailing the abuse, had him arrested for assault, and applied for a court protection order. He has threatened to burn my trailer down to the ground and has become very abusive verbally and physically to the point I had to go stay with a friend out of fear of him," Selek wrote last year. "I feel like my mind is going to snap soon because I'm so afraid." elek, 41, died Tuesday when her boyfriend, Raymond Wood, 37, allegedly ran over her with a van. Authorities say it is the third domastic violence death in York County this year. Wood, 37, who remains in York County Jail, appeared in Biddeford District Court Friday, where the charge against him was upgraded from 1 manslaughter to murder. He entered no plea and was being held without bail. Police say Selek was struck down across the street from her home after an argument with Wood. York County District Attorney Michael Cantara said cases such as Selek's are far too common. "The fact that once again we are confronted with a death should remind everyone that the victims of domestic violence are in need of all n the support of friends, family, neighbors and co-workers," Cantara said. "We have to realize that there is a potential for lethal consequences behind each of these allegations and take them seriously." Selek and Wood were involved in an off-and-on relationship since Wood moved to Maine from Florida in 1997. Court records show that even though the relationship had problems from the beginning, the couple kept getting back together. In August, Selek filled out papers in Springvale District Court asking for a protection order against Wood, saying she had been abused physically and mentally. Selek left the court before she could be questioned by a judge, so the order was denied. Wood was arrested for domestic violence abuse against Selek on Aug. 28 last year. He did not show up for a court appearance in December, leading the court to issue an arrest warrant. Wood was not arrested when he was again charged with assault on Dec. 29, after a fight with Selek. Selek also was issued a summons that night and both charges were later dropped. A van belonging to Chem-Clean, Wood's employer, was parked outside Selek's home Tuesday when Shari Fenderson gave Selek a ride home after their shift at Lyn-Flex Industries, a shoe manufacturing plant in Saco. Police think an • argument prompted Selek to walk out of the house around 9:15 p.m., and that Wood drove up behind her and ran her down. Wood's co-workers noticed a fresh dent on the right corner panel of the van when they arrived at work Wednesday morning. "He just went about his job, like usual,' said Travis King, who strips furniture at the shop. Selek never showed up for work. Around noon, York County Chief Deputy Maurice Quellette arrested Wood on the failure to appear warrant.