A 32-year-old man was arrested Friday in southwest Miami-Dade after authorities say he wrapped his hands around a woman’s neck while she was holding a child. The victim, identified as Suean Rivera, told officers her breathing was cut off for roughly 10 seconds, and police noted redness around her neck. Investigators said the child, born in 2025, was in Rivera’s arms during the confrontation.
Officers arrested 32-year-old Abraham Hernandez and charged him with felony domestic battery by strangulation and child neglect. According to police, Hernandez appeared to be under the influence and was causing a disturbance when they arrived. Rivera told officers the dispute started after she asked him to quiet down because children were sleeping. A judge ordered Hernandez to stay away from the victims, and he is being held on a $7,500 bond, as reported by WSVN.
Strangulation can be deadly even without obvious marks
Medical research has found that non-fatal strangulation often leaves little to see on the surface but can still cause serious internal damage, including brain injury, stroke and other delayed complications. Reviews of the evidence identify non-fatal strangulation as a major warning sign for later lethal violence, meaning even very brief episodes carry significant danger for victims. A review in the Journal of Emergency Nursing notes that what can look minor from the outside may in fact be life-threatening.
What the charges mean in Florida
Under Florida law, domestic battery by strangulation is treated as a felony when a person knowingly and intentionally cuts off another person’s breathing or blood flow by applying pressure to the neck or throat. State code classifies that conduct as a particularly serious type of battery and exposes defendants to third-degree felony penalties. The elements of the offense and potential punishment are laid out in Florida Statutes §784.041.
Help and resources
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. Survivors seeking confidential support can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use the online chat at thehotline.org for local shelter information and safety planning assistance.
