Bond for a man who is accused of stabbing his girlfriend at least 30 times in Hartford and kidnapping her 6-year-old son on New Year’s Day has been set at $2.5 million.
Edgar Manuel Maldonado, 23, is accused of stabbing his 43-year-old girlfriend in a vehicle early on New Year's Day before driving off with her 6-year-old son. The boy was found safe in Worcester, Massachusetts several hours later, and Maldonado was arrested in New York City the next day.
He was extradited to Connecticut and was due to appear in court today, according to Hartford police. His attorney was in court Wednesday, but Maldonado did not appear.
Police said Maldonado has previously been arrested for domestic violence allegations over several years and his relationship with the victim was recent.
Hartford police dispatchers received a 911 call at 1:55 a.m. on New Year's Day about a woman who was covered in blood, banging on doors on Natick Street and screaming for help, according to police.
Patrol officers, as well as Hartford firefighters and EMS responded, began treating the woman and learned that the victim and her 6-year-old son were in a vehicle with Maldonado and the woman was stabbed several times.
The victim was able to get out of the car and Maldonado fled, taking the victim’s son from a prior relationship with him, according to police.
The woman had been stabbed more than 30 times and was transported to Hartford Hospital, where she went through emergency surgery, police said. She has since been released from the hospital.
Police said a nationwide alert was placed on the vehicle registration, surrounding towns were briefed about the incident and the boy was entered into a nationwide database as missing-endangered before the boy was found in Worcester, Massachusetts later the same day.
The little boy did not appear to be harmed.
Maldonado was arrested by New York City police on Jan. 2 and on Jan. 15, Hartford police took custody of him. He faces charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, first-degree assault, and risk of injury to a minor.
His case was transferred to Part A and his next court date is Jan. 29.
