LI Man Accused Of Assaulting, Strangling Girlfriend In Front Of Her Child: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A 33-year-old Coram man was indicted on strangulation, assault and other related charges in connection with attacking his girlfriend in front of her 15-year-old child, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Wednesday.

The man was accused of compressing his girlfriend’s airway with such force that he caused her serious physical injury, Tierney said. The man was not named in order to protect the identity of the girlfriend and her child, the DA said.

"Domestic violence causes deep and lasting harm," Tierney said in a news release. "My office is here to stand with survivors and take strong action against abusers. You are not alone. Please don't hesitate to come forward."

On May 3, the man and his girlfriend got into an argument in a Holtsville hotel, where they had been staying for the night, investigators said. During the argument, the man punched the woman in her head and body, repeatedly, in front of her 15-year-old child, who has developmental disabilities, prosecutors said.

Over approximately four hours into the early morning of May 4, the man also stabbed the woman in the arm with a pen and strangled her so hard that he fractured her hyoid bone — a small, U-shaped bone in the neck that anchors various muscles involved in swallowing, speech, and tongue movement, authorities said.

Medical professionals typically observe fractured hyoids during autopsies, as the force associated with causing the broken bone often results in death, the DA's Office said. As a result of the assault, the woman also sustained a cut to her liver, officials said.

The beating only stopped after guests in several neighboring rooms called the front desk and the police to report the noise that they heard coming from the man's room, prosecutors said.

Officers observed the woman to have severe bruising and swelling all over her face, and the man was arrested, investigators said.

The woman was admitted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries, authorities said.

The man was arraigned on charges of one count of first-degree strangulation; one count of second-degree strangulation; two counts of second-degree assault; one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent/physically disabled person; one count of third-degree assault; and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, the DA said.

The man was ordered held on $100K cash, $200K bond, or $2 million partially-secured bond, according to the DA. His next court date is scheduled for July 2. He is being represented by Christopher Gioe.