20 Years To Life For Trying To Kill Ex-Girlfriend In Sleepy Hollow

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — A case of homicidal domestic violence that nearly destroyed a family could see a Westchester man spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that 40-year-old Ruben Santiago, of Sleepy Hollow, was sentenced Friday afternoon for the vicious attack of his former girlfriend.

Westchester County Court Judge Maurice Williams sentenced Santiago to 20 years to life in state prison, plus five years of post-release supervision, for the assault. The judge further issued a permanent order of protection on behalf of the victim.

"Mr. Santiago's depraved actions highlight the dangers that victims of domestic violence all too often face," DA Cacace said. "It is paramount that we in law enforcement do all that we can to protect domestic abuse victims and to seek justice when they are harmed. Mr. Santiago’s sentence of 20 years to life sends a strong message that acts of violence like this will not be tolerated in Westchester County. I commend our prosecutors and all of the law enforcement officers for their hard work on this case."

According to court documents, on Jan. 2, 2024, around 4:30 p.m., Santiago forcibly entered his ex-girlfriend's home in Sleepy Hollow and shot her with a .38 caliber revolver in front of her young children. The 37-year-old woman suffered gunshot wounds to her neck and hand and was treated at a local hospital. Santiago, who was violating an order of protection at the time of this attack, was captured by the FBI's Westchester Safe Streets Task Force the following day.

In February, Santiago pleaded guilty to felony first-degree attempted murder, felony second-degree attempted murder, felony first-degree attempted assault, three felony counts of first-degree burglary, two felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felony second-degree assault, felony aggravated criminal contempt, felony first-degree criminal contempt, 11 misdemeanor counts of second-degree criminal contempt, four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and misdemeanor third-degree assault.

In her impact statement, which was read in court on Friday, the victim said that after being shot, "I screamed for help and begged for my life. I was left for dead. These night terrors haunt me now in my sleep."

The Sleepy Hollow Police Department conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the FBI's Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, the Westchester County Real Time Crime Center, the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, and the New York City Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Domestic Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Janelle Armentano and Bureau Chief Joyce Miller.

SEE ALSO:

• New Charges For Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend In Sleepy Hollow
• Man Accused Of Trying To Kill Ex-Girlfriend In Sleepy Hollow