A Florida man allegedly strangled his wife in her sleep after discovering text messages from another man on her phone, authorities said. The woman woke up at 4 a.m. with her husband’s hands around her throat, according to police.
William Millan, 40, of Boca Raton, faces a felony battery by strangulation charge for the May 27 incident. It was reportedly the second time in two days he had assaulted her in this way, as outlined in a probable cause affidavit filed in Palm Beach County.
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“William advised that he found out that [his wife] was cheating and wanted to teach her a lesson,” the affidavit quotes from Millan’s interview with Boca Raton police.
The report also states that Millan locked his wife out of their home and refused to hand over the car keys, preventing her from going to work.
Police responded to the couple’s apartment after the alleged early-morning attack. The woman told officers that a similar incident had occurred on May 25 but that she had been too frightened to report it.
“[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 reads.
Officers documented visible injuries on the victim, including red marks on her neck and side of her face, where she claimed Millan also struck her. Police took photographs of the injuries for evidence.
Although Millan was initially reluctant to come outside, he eventually spoke with officers through a sliding glass door. He reportedly admitted to accusing his wife of cheating and acknowledged they had been arguing.
“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.”
Authorities identified Millan as the primary aggressor and arrested him. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on a felony battery by strangulation charge.
