Man charged with beating and strangling pregnant woman in her own bedroom in Dorchester and attacking her one-year-old child

A judge today ordered a man held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing next week after he was arrested on charges he viciously beat a pregnant woman to whom he's related in Dorchester, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Marvin de la Cruz, 23, was arraigned in East Boston Municipal Court on Monday on charges of assault and battery on a pregnant victim, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, strangulation of a pregnant victim, assault and battery against a family member and assault and battery on a child causing bodily injury, the DA's office says.

According to the DA's office, de la Cruz entered the woman's bedroom in Dorchester and jumped on her while she was asleep.

He proceeded to punch her in the head and pull her to the ground by her hair. While the victim was on the ground, De La Cruz repeatedly kicked her in the stomach and head. He then strangled her to the point where she lost consciousness.

During the assault, the young child who was present in the room, began crying. De La Cruz covered and squeezed the child’s nose and mouth in an attempt to silence him, causing the child’s nose to start bleeding.

After the woman regained consciousness, De La Cruz told her, “Go freshen up, you are bleeding.” The mother grabbed the child and fled the house on foot.

EMS arrived on the scene and evaluated the victims’ injuries. The woman had a laceration on her head and right ear, as well as a red, swollen lip. Her abdomen was also bruised. The child’s forehead and nose bridge were swollen and bruised, and there was blood on his body.

Innocent, etc.