Mugshot of Antenasia Marrero. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Details of an incident that took place in December 2020, for which an arrest was made in Nov. 2022, were revealed in the V.I. Superior Court on Monday, where the suspect — 21-year-old Antenasia Marrero — faced several charges.
Marrero was arrested on November 18 and charged with second-degree assault as an act of domestic violence, simple assault and battery as an act of domestic violence, and child abuse.
Her arrest follows a December 11, 2020 incident where Marrero allegedly assaulted a minor causing visible injuries to the child’s neck.
According to documents before the court, Marrero knew the alleged victim well, having been acquainted with the minor’s mother. On the day of the incident an exchange of words between the minor and Marrero resulted in the child’s mother verbally disciplining him, after which he went into his room. The mother then went into the bedroom to talk to the minor, however Marrero walked in and pushed the mother out of the way.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, the minor left his bedroom to go outside the apartment but Marrero grabbed and took him to the kitchen where she wrapped her left arm around his neck and began to squeeze it, strangling him. The victim asked Marrero to loosen his neck because he could not breathe, however after letting go of his neck, the victim told police that Marrero slammed him against the kitchen wall then took him to the living room, slamming him on the floor and began to strangle him again.
When police made contact with the victim, there was redness and several scratches on the minor’s neck, according to court documents.
Members of the V.I.P.D.’s Criminal Investigation Bureau executed an arrest warrant at 9:20 a.m. Friday, November 18, on Marrero outside her place of employment without incident. It was not clear why it took two years to arrest the suspect.
In court on Monday, a judge ruled that Marrero would allowed to post an unsecured bond for the full amount of her $50,000 bail to secure her release. An unsecured bond means the defendant signs a document promising to pay a certain amount of money if the defendant breaks his/her bond conditions.
Once posted, she would be released to a third-party custodian. A discovery conference is set for April 19, 2023.
