A Vancouver man accused of trying to strangle his girlfriend to death reportedly told the victim that “demons were telling him to kill her and her family,” and “he was going to ‘listen to the demons,’ ” according to court records.
Jo Rodriquez Reynosa, 31, appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of attempted second-degree domestic violence murder in connection with the Sunday incident at the Candlewood Suites in Vancouver.
His bail was set at $1 million.
The victim, 25-year-old Demi Bolger, suffered bruising and abrasions on her hands, arms and back, and bruising and a bump on her forehead. Responding Vancouver police officers also noted a large red mark on the front of her neck. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Bolger said she used a broken glass to cut Reynosa’s arms in an attempt to stop the attack. He, too, was taken to the hospital, where he struggled with eight to 10 people as they restrained him on a gurney. Reynosa also reportedly said that he ingested 10 Xanax pills, court records state.
According to the affidavit, Reynosa picked Bolger up Saturday and told her to pack clothes for a surprise two-day getaway. He then took her to the hotel at 2010 S.E. 192nd Ave., and shortly after arriving told Bolger that demons were telling him to kill her and her family, and himself. He also stated that people were trying to kill his family. The next morning, Reynosa told Bolger he was going to “listen to the demons.”
Bolger said she found knives and a scalpel in their hotel room and became scared because of Reynosa’s statements. She threw the scalpel under the bed. When he asked where it went, she told him she threw it away, which angered Reynosa, according to court documents.
Reynosa pinned Bolger to the bed and said, “I’m sorry, but I have to do this. I have to kill you.” He grabbed her throat and began strangling her. He released his grip about 30 seconds later, and Bolger ran from the room, court records state.
Bolger returned to the room a few minutes later, and Reynosa apologized. But then he held her down again and strangled her. Bolger tried to kick and buck Reynosa off of her, but she was unable to move, she said. She told Reynosa she was dying, and he replied, “I know you are gonna die,” the affidavit said.
Fearing for her life, Bolger said, she grabbed a glass from the nightstand, smashed it on the headboard and used the jagged glass to cut Reynosa’s arms in an attempt to stop him. She told officers, “He didn’t even flinch. It wasn’t going to do anything. I was still going to die,” according to court documents.
Reynosa continued to strangle Bolger and covered her mouth and nose until she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, Bolger said Reynosa appeared to be trying to electrocute himself with a lamp. She ran from the room, screaming, court records said.
Reynosa dragged Bolger back into the room by her hair, but she continued to scream and ran. She sought help from a hotel employee. Reynosa told the employee that Bolger was “crazy and was overreacting because he had attempted to kill himself.” Bolger told the employee to call 911, the affidavit states.
Hotel employees took Bolger behind the front desk and stopped Reynosa from trying to get to her. Police arrived soon after.
During his first appearance, Reynosa wore a suicide-prevention smock given to inmates who may try to harm themselves with standard jail clothing. He will be arraigned May 4.
