Daniel Benitez-Maldonado, a 22-year-old man from Nibley, was arrested on Oct. 3 following allegations that he assaulted and strangled his ex-girlfriend. According to an October 5 report from the Cache County Sheriff’s Office, the incident also involved the destruction of the victim's cellphone.
The victim reported to investigators that she had ended her cohabiting relationship with Benitez-Maldonado earlier on the day of the incident. While she was at a house party in Nibley, Benitez-Maldonado allegedly used the Life360 location-sharing app to locate her. The woman stated that Benitez-Maldonado arrived in an intoxicated state and she voluntarily entered his truck. While the vehicle was moving slowly toward his brother's residence, the woman said Benitez-Maldonado attempted to take her cellphone and pushed her from the passenger door.
According to a probable cause statement, Benitez-Maldonado allegedly took the phone and demanded its password after the woman fell onto the concrete. When she refused, the affidavit states he threw her to the ground and pressed his foot against both sides of her face, causing bleeding inside her upper lip. The woman told investigators that Benitez-Maldonado then lifted and strangled her against the truck for approximately 15 seconds. She reported experiencing dizziness, difficulty breathing, tunnel vision, a sore throat, and a partial loss of consciousness during the struggle. The affidavit also states that Benitez-Maldonado groped the woman during the alleged strangulation.
Following the struggle, the woman stated she broke free when Benitez-Maldonado lost his grip while holding her cellphone against her neck. She was allegedly chased by Benitez-Maldonado, who grabbed her wrists hard enough to leave visible marks. The man then allegedly threw the cellphone onto the ground, damaging it so severely that the screen shattered and the phone partially split in half. The woman had intended to use the device to call for help.
The incident was documented by a forensic nurse at Logan Regional Hospital after the victim was evaluated by Logan Fire Department personnel and transported to the facility. Following the event, the woman's grandmother reportedly observed her making suicidal comments and attempting to ingest an entire bottle of prescription medication. Benitez-Maldonado faces 10 charges: second-degree felony aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree felony aggravated assault, and seven misdemeanors for assault, sexual battery, interruption of a communication device, and property damage. A judge granted a request to hold Benitez-Maldonado without bail on Monday morning, and his initial appearance was held that afternoon.
The crimes detailed in the probable cause statement are allegations, and Benitez-Maldonado is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
