Dangerousness Hearing Ordered in Assault that Left Pregnant Woman Unconscious
BOSTON, June 29, 2022— A Boston man is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing after being charged with beating a pregnant woman and assaulting a young child, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
MARVIN DE LA CRUZ, 23, was charged Monday in the East Boston Division of Boston Municipal Court with assault and battery on a pregnant victim, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, strangulation of a pregnant victim, assault and battery against a family member, and assault and battery on a child causing bodily injury. Judge Debra A. DelVecchio ordered De La Cruz held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on July 6.
Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Martinelli said that on Saturday, June 25, De La Cruz beat and strangled a woman, who was two months pregnant, and injured a 1-year-old child. De La Cruz entered the woman’s bedroom in Dorchester and jumped on top of her while she was asleep. He proceeded to punch her in the head and pull her to the ground by her hair. While the victim was on the ground, De La Cruz repeatedly kicked her in the stomach and head. He then strangled her to the point where she lost consciousness.
During the assault, the young child who was present in the room, began crying. De La Cruz covered and squeezed the child’s nose and mouth in an attempt to silence him, causing the child’s nose to start bleeding.
After the woman regained consciousness, De La Cruz told her, “Go freshen up, you are bleeding.” The mother grabbed the child and fled the house on foot.
EMS arrived on the scene and evaluated the victims’ injuries. The woman had a laceration on her head and right ear, as well as a red, swollen lip. Her abdomen was also bruised. The child’s forehead and nose bridge were swollen and bruised, and there was blood on his body.
“There is no excuse for the type of violence that this individual is accused of committing. The victims in this case were incredibly vulnerable – one due to his tender age, and the other due to her pregnancy. We will always work to ensure the safety and protection vulnerable victims and those who are unable to protect themselves,” Hayden said.
The victims of any crime, including domestic violence, should call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24 hours a day in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages. Help is also available for members of our LGTBQ+ community experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through The Network/La Red by calling 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901.
There are additional resources available to report suspected crimes against children. In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146. Survivors may also contact the Child Protection Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 617-619-4300. Anyone who believes that a child in Massachusetts may be the victim of abuse can call the Department of Children and Families’ Child at Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal legal system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.