Saturday, January 13, 2007

Hearing set for battery suspect

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Managing Editor

Police say an air mattress 26-year-old Jannifer Duran was sleeping on when her boyfriend allegedly hit her in the head with a large rock helped to cushion the blow and may have saved her life.

"It's a miracle she didn't die," said Police Chief Lawrence Romero.

Duran's boyfriend, Demitri Welch, 30, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 17 on charges of aggravated battery on a household member with a deadly weapon, driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or drug and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

Welch is being held at the Socorro County Detention Center. According to court records, Kathy Stout has been appointed to represent him.

Romero said Duran and Welch moved to Socorro about four moths ago. Welch still lists an Albuquerque address on his driver's license.

Police received a call of a stolen vehicle from an apartment on Aspen early on the morning of Jan. 6.

When Officer Richard Lopez arrived at the scene, he found Duran with her face and head covered in blood.

"(Duran) said that when she awoke, she felt blood on her face and thought that she had gotten a bloody nose," Romero said.

She told the officer she went to the bathroom and saw the blood on her face. She also noticed that Welch was gone along with her purse and 2004 Dodge SRX that was parked outside.

It was then that she went to a neighbor's apartment and called police, according to the criminal complaint.

While officers were investigating the incident at the apartment, Officer Gilbert Padilla radioed in that a vehicle matching the description of the one reported stolen was traveling on Spring Street.

Padilla pulled the vehicle over and Welch was placed in handcuffs. According to the criminal complaint, Welch had an odor of an alcoholic beverage about him.

The officer found Duran's purse in the vehicle as well as other forms of identification for her.

When questioned by Detective Lawrence Montaño, Welch said that he had been at home with Duran when two men came to the home. He said he knew one of the men and let them into the apartment, according to the criminal complaint. They were hanging out at the residence when Welch went to the restroom. When he came out, he saw one of the men going through Duran's vehicle and proceeded to the bedroom where he saw that Duran had been battered.

The complaint said Welch told the detective the two men left the apartment and he chased them for 45 minutes.

Romero said when asked why he didn't go and get help for his girlfriend, he said that he takes care of things himself.

"He just refused any further comment on it," Romero said when Welch was asked about the purse and other items found in the vehicle.

Welch was taken to Socorro General Hospital where he submitted to a blood alcohol test. Police have not received the results of that test. Duran was treated at the hospital for her injuries and was released the same day.

Romero said Duran and Welch had been having arguments over Welch's alleged drug use

Officers found a large, boulder-sized rock in the bedroom of the apartment, the chief said. Detectives found a set of footprints leading from the home to a hill a short distance away where the footprints ended. According the complaint, it appeared a large object had been removed from the ground and the footprints then went back to the home.

Romero said the case is still under investigation and additional charges are being considered.

aolmsted@dchieftain.com

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