Holly Hill, FL - A 49-year-old Holly Hill man assaulted and falsely imprisoned the woman he lives with, that he met on Craigslist 6 weeks ago, after she declined his sexual advances.
Police arrived on scene at the Wells Fargo Bank on 1600 Ridgewood Ave. in Holly Hill at about 5:30 PM due to a call about a man identified as Ricardo Martinez attacking a woman, Lindite Muja.
Martinez and Muja have been living at Martinez's home for the past six weeks after meeting through Craigslist. Muja said she only wanted a platonic relationship with Martinez, but he wanted to engage in a sexual relationship with her. Muja claims that she is addicted to narcotics and that Martinez often gave her drugs.
On Thursday, the two met at the Wells Fargo Parking lot at 5 PM. Upon getting into Martinez's truck, Muja was attacked by him. Muja was punched and her arms were zip-tied behind her back. Martinez then choked Muja to the point where she could not breathe.
Muja fears that Martinez may try to kill her again.
Immediately after the attack, a VCSO deputy arrived at the scene. Martinez cut Muja's ties and she fled from the truck telling the deputy what Martinez had just done. The deputy found defensive cuts and wounds, marks on her wrists from being bound and bruising and swelling all over her body. Pictures were taken of her injuries as evidence.
HHPD arrived and secured Martinez's truck and the parking lot. Photographs of zip-ties and fragments of Muja's jewelry in the truck were submitted to evidence.
Martinez was taken to the HHPD where he gave his side of the story. He claims he never gave Muja drugs, but he gave her money to buy them herself. He claims they met at the Wells Fargo because she was supposed to give him a check to deposit. Martinez says there was an argument, but he denies assaulting and imprisoning Muja even after being shown photos of her wounds by police.
He claims he uses the zip-ties for work and that he would not incriminate himself. Martinez was arrested, charged, and sent to the Volusia County Branch Jail with no bond. His charges include Felony Domestic Battery by Strangulation, Battery Causing Bodily Harm and False Imprisonment
(Mugshot courtesy Volusia County Corrections)
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