Man arrested in alleged domestic assault that left partner, unborn child at risk
A Jacksonville man is being held without bond after authorities say he assaulted a woman he shares a child with, striking her, strangling her and detaining her against her will while she was approximately 10 weeks pregnant.
According to court records filed in connection with the case, deputies arrested 34-year-old Daquari McCray on Thursday. The charging documents allege the incident occurred Oct. 1 and included several actions that prompted multiple criminal counts.
- Assault by strangulation — alleged physical choking of the victim
- Misdemeanor domestic violence — related to assault on a family member or intimate partner
- Battery of an unborn child — additional charge tied to the pregnancy
- False imprisonment — alleged unlawful detention of the victim
- Injury to personal property and interfering with emergency communications — alleged damaging of the victim’s phone and obstructing her attempt to call for help
“The 34-year-old remains behind bars without bond.”
Court documents describe an incident in which the woman was punched in the face and placed in a chokehold. Investigators further allege the defendant prevented her from leaving and broke her phone while she was attempting to call 911. Those actions form the basis for the additional property and communications-related counts.
Charges and next steps in the legal process
McCray faces a combination of felony and misdemeanor counts. The most serious of those is assault by strangulation, a felony in many jurisdictions that prosecutors often use in domestic violence cases where an alleged chokehold or similar act is involved. The alleged battery of an unborn child elevates the case because it ties the defendant’s conduct to potential harm to a fetus.
| Charge | Allegation described in court records |
|---|---|
| Assault by strangulation | Victim allegedly strangled during attack |
| Battery of unborn child | Victim was approximately 10 weeks pregnant at time of incident |
| False imprisonment | Victim allegedly detained against her will |
| Interfering with emergency communications | Phone allegedly knocked out of victim’s hand and broken while calling police |
The records do not include statements from the suspect or detail any defense he may offer. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal indictments and proceed to trial; meanwhile, the defendant remains in custody without bond pending further court proceedings.
Local context and community implications
Domestic violence cases that allege strangulation and harm to a pregnancy tend to draw heightened scrutiny from prosecutors because of the significant physical and emotional risks involved. For residents, such incidents often raise questions about prevention, victim support and how community services respond.
Advocacy groups and law enforcement agencies generally encourage victims of intimate-partner violence to reach out to local resources and to report threats to their safety. Many jurisdictions also have protocols for offering protective orders, emergency relocation and counseling for affected family members.
This case also highlights the role of electronic evidence and emergency communications in domestic incidents. Authorities alleged the suspect damaged the victim’s phone while she attempted to summon help — an action that can complicate a victim’s ability to contact police or obtain assistance and that may produce separate criminal exposure for the alleged offender.
As the case moves through the legal system, court filings and hearing dates will provide further details, including any statements from the victim, the defendant or prosecutors. For now, the charges filed and the allegation that the woman was pregnant at the time of the incident form the core of the prosecution’s case as reflected in the warrants and charging documents.
Anyone with information about the case is typically urged to contact the relevant law enforcement agency. Victims and others seeking help can also consult local domestic-violence hotlines and service providers for support and guidance.
This report is based on court records and a news release from WITN. Additional reporting will follow as new information becomes available.
