Man claims to be ‘the devil,’ holds girlfriend hostage for a day

TRENTON » A man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly held his girlfriend hostage inside a city home for more than 24 hours.

Euserio Hernandez-Santa Maria, 52, is also accused of assaulting the woman before threatening to kill her if she called cops.

“If you have me arrested, I will kill you when I’m released,” Hernandez allegedly told the victim, according to police. “I’m the devil.”

The victim told detectives she was lying in bed around 10 p.m. Sunday when her boyfriend — identified as Hernandez — returned home drunk. The woman said Hernandez started arguing with her, and that she tried to avoid him by going to the bathroom.

As the woman walked toward the restroom inside their Hamilton Avenue home, Hernandez allegedly hit her, causing a laceration to her head. The woman said she almost lost consciousness from the attack, and that she tried to go to the hospital but Hernandez wouldn’t let her. Hernandez then pulled her hair, the victim said, and forced her into a bedroom, where he then punched her in the body and took her cellphone.

He then warned her not to call police or she would feel the wrath of “the devil.”

Officials say the woman remained in the house all day Monday, then finally escaped around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, after Hernandez left the property to hang out with friends. The woman then went to the hospital, where she met law enforcement and told them what happened.

Police arrested Hernandez at the Hamilton Avenue property about six hours after talking to the victim in the hospital.

Hernandez is charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault and terroristic threats.