City Man Charged with Brutal Beating of Ex-Wife

A Bethlehem man was jailed after allegedly giving his ex-wife such a brutal, savage beating that she had to be hospitalized for her injuries, according to court records.

Edwin Santana, 42, of 215 E. Morton St., is accused in the crime, which allegedly occurred in front of his home on Tuesday afternoon at about 4:30. The incident occurred after his ex-wife, Elizabeth Santana, gave him a ride home from the grocery store because he had many bags to carry and, she told police, she didn’t want him to have to walk home.

While he was removing bags from her car, Edwin Santana suddenly lunged at Elizabeth Santana with a sword, trying to stab her in the right side with it, the arrest affidavit says.

Elizabeth managed to get out of the way in time, but the attack continued after Edwin laughed and said to her: “What are you afraid of?” He then reached into the car and started punching her in the head and face, the court papers say.

Elizabeth got out of her vehicle and ran behind it, where Edwin caught her and started punching her in the head some more, police said. Elizabeth told police that at one point she thinks she lost consciousness because she next remembered Edwin standing over her and kicking her.

Elizabeth told police that the only reason Edwin stopped is that someone yelled “Stop! Stop!” according to court papers.

Elizabeth was able to get back into her vehicle, lock the doors and start to drive away, but had to stop because her vision was blurred, the arrest affidavit says.

Eventually, Elizabeth went to St. Luke’s Hospital in Fountain Hill where she was treated for multiple injuries, according to police. The visible injuries described on the arrest warrant include a laceration to the bridge of her nose, which may have been broken; swelling around both of her eyes and the left side of her head; cuts to her lips, neck and the inside of her mouth; a swollen left foot and scrapes to her knees and her right shoulder.

Edwin Santana was charged with two counts of aggravated assault – one for the alleged attempt with the sword and another for the alleged beating he gave with his fists; simple assault; recklessly endangering another person; possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and harassment.

The arrest warrant says three swords were found in a search of Edwin Santana’s home.

Edwin Santana was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail following his arraignment before District Judge Roy A. Manwaring. His preliminary hearing is set for July 22 before District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez.