Inset: William Millan (Palm Beach County Jail). Background: The apartment complex in Boca Raton, Fla., where William Millan allegedly choked his wife (Google Maps).
A Florida man thought his wife was cheating on him, so he allegedly strangled her while she was sleeping — with the woman waking up to find his hands gripped around her throat — after he discovered text messages on her phone from another man, police say.
William Millan, 40, of Boca Raton, is charged with felony battery by strangulation for the May 27 attack. It was allegedly the second time in two days that he attacked the victim in this way, according to a probable cause affidavit, which was filed in Palm Beach County last week.
“William advised that he found out that [his wife] was cheating and wanted to teach her a lesson,” the affidavit says, citing Millan’s interview with Boca Raton police.
“William also locked her out of the house and refused to give her the keys to their car so she could go to work,” the document adds.
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Police were called to the couple’s residence after Millan allegedly attacked his wife at around 4 a.m., according to authorities. She told officers that “the same thing” happened on May 25 “but she was too scared to report it,” per the affidavit.
“[The victim] stated that William has done this in the past and she has never reported it because she was always in fear of what would happen after she called the police,” the affidavit alleges.
Officers observed “red marks” around the victim’s neck and the side of her face where she was also allegedly hit by Millan, according to cops. Pictures were taken of her injuries as evidence.
Millan was hesitant to come outside to speak to officers after they arrived, the affidavit says, but he did allegedly confirm while talking with cops through a sliding glass door that he had accused his wife of cheating and was arguing with her.
“I asked him if it ever got physical and he stated that he only played loud music this morning to let out some steam,” an officer wrote in the affidavit. “He denied choking or touching [the victim] at any time.”
Police determined that Millan was the primary aggressor and placed him into custody for battery by strangulation. He was booked at the Palm Beach County Jail.
