Deglis Antoni Jarquin, a 24-year-old resident of the Tamiami neighborhood in Miami-Dade, was taken into custody on Wednesday. He faces charges of kidnapping and brutally assaulting a woman who had agreed to let him drive her home after her shift at a coffee shop in Sweetwater, according to reports from local Miami media.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of July 16, around 12:30 a.m., when the victim, identified as Yajayda, finished her shift at La Escalerita café. Jarquin, a Nicaraguan national and regular customer, offered to give her a ride when her scheduled transportation failed to show.
Victim Breaks Her Silence
Yajayda recounted her harrowing experience to Univision 23, stating, "I was waiting for my Uber, but it never arrived. I was about to request it again when he noticed and offered me a ride. I didn't see any harm in it," she explained.
According to her account, during the drive along Palmetto Expressway, Jarquin began making sexual advances and inappropriately touching her. Instead of taking her home, he allegedly drove to a secluded area on Northwest 37th Avenue in Miami Gardens, where he forcibly kissed her and demanded sexual favors.
"He said, 'Give me a kiss.' I replied, 'Why? Is it because of the favor you're doing for me? If you want, I'll pay for the ride.' He grabbed me by the neck. When I realized I couldn't breathe, I agreed to be intimate with him so he would let me go," Yajayda shared with Telemundo 51.
Escape and Assault
When she managed to break free, Yajayda opened the car door and attempted to flee, falling to her knees on the pavement. Jarquin reportedly immediately lunged at her.
"He grabbed me by the hair, slammed me into the pavement, and punched me repeatedly. I truly thought I was going to die that day," she told Univision 23.
The police report states that Jarquin also struck the back of her head against the ground multiple times and bit her on the stomach. The victim lost consciousness and was left on the road; when she regained awareness, the attacker had already fled in his vehicle.
The following day, Yajayda returned to work with a swollen face and bruises. The café owner, Ariana Arria, called the police upon seeing her condition and expressed shock at the behavior of a regular customer.
"We see faces, but we don't know hearts. We never imagined he'd react this way. I'm shocked and stunned," Arria told Univision 23.
Investigation and Charges
The investigation by the Miami Gardens Police Department spanned nearly three months, involving surveillance footage review, a photo lineup where Yajayda identified Jarquin two weeks post-attack, and cell tower data analysis that traced the suspect's phone from the café to the reported assault location.
During questioning, Jarquin presented an alternative narrative, claiming they had mutually agreed to engage in sexual acts for money and that she initiated the violence. However, investigators gathered physical evidence, phone records, and other materials that substantiated the charges against him.
Jarquin is facing a kidnapping charge, a crime that in Florida can lead to a life sentence, depending on the circumstances, along with additional charges of physical assault. Reports on his arrest indicate he remains detained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bail and is under a federal immigration hold.
"I truly thought that was my last day. I saw myself at the end, but I fought and fought, and thank God, I'm here," Yajayda told Telemundo 51, urging other women, "Don't get in a car with someone you don't know."
Understanding the Case of Deglis Antoni Jarquin
Who is Deglis Antoni Jarquin?
Deglis Antoni Jarquin is a 24-year-old Nicaraguan national residing in Miami-Dade, accused of kidnapping and assaulting a woman after offering her a ride home from her workplace.
What charges does Jarquin face?
Jarquin faces charges of kidnapping, which can result in a life sentence in Florida under certain conditions, as well as additional charges of physical assault.