A Leesburg man was arrested for allegedly strangling his wife in a hotel room, leading to her hospitalization at UF Health-Leesburg Hospital.
An officer responded to a battery at an undisclosed Lake County address around 7:33 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Upon arrival, he met with the female victim.
The victim stated she was strangled in her hotel room by 43-year-old Nathan Edward Martin. She explained that at about 7:15 p.m., they were arguing. He then wrapped his forearms in a cross position around her neck above the collarbone, the report said.
The victim was unable to breathe for about 12 seconds before she maneuvered out of Martin’s grip. She was lying on the bed when he went to the bathroom to grab a tissue. Seeing this, she ran out of the room and onto the road to find help, the report said.
As the victim ran across the highway, she met a worker at Amscot. She was explaining to the worker when she saw her black Jeep heading eastbound toward Tavares. Martin was gone before the officer got there and was not in the surrounding area, the report said.
The victim was then transported to UF Health Leesburg Hospital, located at 600 E. Dixie Avenue, where the officer observed her eyes to have bloodlines on the sides of her eyeballs. This condition is known as petechial hemorrhage, which is caused by asphyxia, or strangulation. She stated she was married to Martin and lived as a family with him for over a year, the report said.
Additionally, Martin had a prior battery conviction verified by the Leesburg Communications Center, the report said.
At about 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, the victim told an officer that Martin was last seen at 2003 Sanderlin Loop in Apopka. She got this information through a text message from a family member. Martin was currently homeless due to being kicked out of their Leesburg home address, the report said.
Martin was subsequently arrested on charge of battery by strangulation (domestic). The New York native was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $10,000 bond.