Man jailed in Aibonito after knife attack on mother and stepfather
Miguel Ángel Santiago Aponte, 45, faces charges of attempted murder, elder abuse and weapons violations after the Oct. 12 incident in Aibonito; he did not post $375,000 bail.
PhotoThe short version
- NotiCel reported that Miguel Ángel Santiago Aponte was charged with one count of attempted murder, two counts of elder abuse and two weapons violations
- Primera Hora reported the attack occurred at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 in barrio Pasto when the suspect allegedly stabbed his 75-year-old stepfather in the head, clavicle and hands
- El Nuevo Día and Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the mother suffered a superficial wound while trying to intervene and the suspect was ordered held at Las Cucharas prison in Ponce
- All outlets reported Judge Roberto Capestany Quiñones found probable cause and set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 26
Arrest follows family confrontation
A 45-year-old Aibonito man identified as Miguel Ángel Santiago Aponte was ordered to prison after a judge found probable cause to arrest him on charges including attempted murder, according to NotiCel, Primera Hora and El Nuevo Día. The incidents occurred on Monday, Oct. 12, in barrio Pasto, Aibonito, police said.
According to Primera Hora, the stepfather, 75, told investigators he was in the kitchen when he saw Santiago Aponte emerge from a bedroom holding a knife and asking “¿vas a seguir abusando de mí?”. The suspect then allegedly stabbed him in the head, clavicle and hands. The mother received a superficial wound while trying to separate them, Primera Hora reported. Telemundo Puerto Rico gave the stepfather’s age as 72 and said both victims suffered lacerations.
When another son of the woman, who lives next door, arrived after hearing screams, Santiago Aponte allegedly tried to attack him too, Primera Hora and Telemundo Puerto Rico reported. The brother, who has a valid firearms license, fired a 9 mm pistol but did not strike anyone, the outlets said. Paramedics treated the older couple.
Charges and bail decision
Agent Víctor Ortiz of the Aibonito Criminal Investigation Corps consulted with prosecutor Lourdes Cruz Vélez, who filed one count of attempted murder, two counts of maltreatment of the elderly and two violations of the Weapons Law for carrying and using a white weapon, NotiCel, El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported. The investigation was supervised by Sgt. Arnold García and Lt. Héctor Maldonado.
Judge Roberto Capestany Quiñones of the Aibonito court found probable cause on all charges on Oct. 13 or 14 and set a total bond of $375,000, which Santiago Aponte did not post, according to all four outlets. He was remanded to the Las Cucharas Correctional Complex in Ponce. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 26, El Nuevo Día and Telemundo Puerto Rico stated.
Where the sources differ
All four sources agree on the defendant’s name and age, the charges, the $375,000 bail, the judge’s name, the prison and the Oct. 26 preliminary hearing. NotiCel, El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora say the mother and stepfather are both elderly while Telemundo Puerto Rico specifies the stepfather as 72. Primera Hora gives the exact time as 7:30 p.m. and the stepfather’s quoted words; Telemundo and El Nuevo Día give slightly different descriptions of the victims’ ages and injuries. Primera Hora and Telemundo report the brother firing a licensed pistol; NotiCel and El Nuevo Día omit that detail. El Nuevo Día dates the attack as “yesterday” in its Oct. 13 story while others align on Oct. 12.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the exact ages or current medical condition of the mother and stepfather beyond initial treatment. They give no motive beyond the quoted question to the stepfather. No information appears on whether the brother faces any charge related to the gunshot or on the precise extent of the victims’ wounds. The articles do not say when the victims might testify or whether protective orders were issued.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting A prisión hombre acusado de atacar con cuchillo a su madre y padrastro en Aibonito
- Reporting Duerme en prisión imputado por tentativa de asesinato a su madre y padrastro
- Reporting A la cárcel hombre que habría agredido con un cuchillo a su madre y a su padrastro en Aibonito
- Reporting Causa para arresto contra imputado de atacar con cuchillo a su padrastro de 72 años
How we checked this
NotiCel, Primera Hora, El Nuevo Día and Telemundo Puerto Rico all covered the arraignment and police account of the Aibonito knife attack. Details of the confrontation and the brother’s shot rest solely on Primera Hora and Telemundo Puerto Rico while the exact charge wording comes from NotiCel and El Nuevo Día.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.