Published: Friday, May 6, 2011 5:16 p.m. MDT
By Pat Reavy, Deseret News
MILLCREEK — A woman found dead in her apartment Thursday may have been beaten for 10 hours before dying, police say.
James Rafael Sanchez, 23, who was taken into custody following a three-hour standoff with police Thursday, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Friday for investigation of aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping.
Police believe Sanchez assaulted his girlfriend, Angela Michelle Jenkins, 44, "to the point of a loss of consciousness and to where she could not breathe," according to the Unified Police Department.
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Salt Lake County Jail
James Sanchez
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Sanchez was Jenkins' live-in boyfriend, according to jail records. He told detectives after his arrest that he and Jenkins started arguing about 8 p.m. Wednesday. During the argument, Sanchez "pulled the victim's hair, slapped, kicked, backhanded, bit and choked her," a police report states.
The abuse continued for 10 hours, until approximately 6 a.m. Thursday, when "the victim lost consciousness and quit breathing," according to the report.
The Utah State Medical Examiner's Office determined that Jenkins died from multiple blunt force trauma and strangulation, said Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal.
Thursday, officers were called twice to Jenkins' apartment, 2230 E. 3300 South, once about 6 a.m. on a report of a domestic dispute and again at 10:20 a.m. when a man, believed to be Sanchez, called 911 from a nearby 7-Eleven and said paramedics were needed at the apartment because a woman inside was not breathing, the report states.
Interviews with witnesses led police to 1743 E. Gregson Ave., where Sanchez had fled to a friend's house. After learning there were weapons inside the home, a SWAT team surrounded the home and eventually talked Sanchez into surrendering.
According to one associate, Sanchez "confessed he had recently assaulted the victim," and "he believed he may have killed her," the report states.
He was taken Thursday night to a local hospital for what officials called a "previous medical condition." He was released Friday and booked into jail.
Investigators said Sanchez had a history of domestic violence with Jenkins. A week ago, detectives believe Jenkins was beaten and held against her will by Sanchez, Hoyal said. It was after that incident that Jenkins told another tenant to call police if he ever heard her being assaulted, according to the report.
In 2006, Sanchez was found guilty of car burglary, a class A misdemeanor. He was put on probation, but violated probation and had several warrants issued for his arrest for probation violation and failing to appear to subsequent hearings. He was eventually sentenced in 2008 to about nine months in jail with credit for time served, according to Utah State Court records.
In 2008, a felony theft by receiving stolen property charge was dismissed, court records indicate.
In 2009, Sanchez pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted drug possession, a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor criminal mischief. He was sentenced to a year in jail, according to court records.
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