A Sandoval County woman survived four separate strangulation attacks — losing vision and nearly losing consciousness — before escaping a Placitas home and flagging down help on May 3, according to a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo Magistrate Court.
Sandoval County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the address at approximately 8:24 p.m. and arrested a 40-year-old Bernalillo man on four charges: aggravated battery against a household member by strangulation or suffocation, a third-degree felony; false imprisonment, a fourth-degree felony; interference with communications; and cruelty to animals, both misdemeanors.
According to the complaint, the suspect seized his wife’s cell phone to prevent her from calling 911, then pushed her to the ground and kicked her in the head and ribs before strangling her on three separate occasions inside the home. He dragged her by the hair to a hot tub and then to a bedroom during subsequent attacks, the complaint states. After she escaped through the front door carrying the couple’s seven-week-old puppy — which the complaint says the suspect kicked during the incident — he followed her into the street and strangled her a fourth time before returning to the house.
The woman located her phone, which the suspect had thrown onto the roadside, and called 911. Deputies arrived within four minutes of the call.
Domestic violence resources in New Mexico
- NM Crisis Line: 1-855-662-7474 (24/7)
- Esperanza Shelter (Santa Fe/Sandoval County): 505-473-5200
- National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788
- Haven House: 1.800.526.7157 (24/7) 505-896-4869 (local) havenhouseinc.org