KINGSHILL — A St. Croix junior high school student accused a family member of strangling him at home last week, authorities said.
Juliana Derima, 31, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault-domestic violence, child abuse and simple assault & battery-domestic violence, the Virgin Islands Police Department said..
A 911 emergency dispatcher got a report of child abuse from the John H. Woodson Junior High School on December 4, 2024, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Juliana Derima, 31, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Officers met with school faculty and the victim who indicated he was assaulted by a family member, police said.
A detective from the VIPD’s Domestic Violence Unit assigned to investigate this matter, met with the victim who indicated he was strangled by a family member, according to police.
“The victim said he was unable to breathe at the time of the assault and had visible injuries to the neck as a
result of the strangulation,” VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said.
Juliana Derima agreed to speak with officers on Wednesday, police said.
The suspect was transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station where she was advised of her Miranda Rights and agreed to provide a statement, according to police.
“Derima admitted to putting her hand around the victim’s throat, however, indicated it was only to keep the victim under control.” according to Chichester.
No bail was set in this matter. Derima was booked, processed and transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the Golden Grove prison.
Derima is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing at Superior Court in Kingshill.
