April 25, 2025

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Sleepy Hollow man was sentenced this afternoon for the vicious attack of his former girlfriend. Ruben Santiago, 40, was sentenced by Westchester County Court Judge Maurice Williams to 20 years to life in state prison, plus five years of post-release supervision, for this heinous assault.

Judge Williams further issued a permanent order of protection on behalf of the victim.

DA Cacace said: "Mr. Santiago’s depraved actions highlight the dangers that victims of domestic violence all too often face. It is paramount that we in law enforcement do all that we can to protect domestic abuse victims and to seek justice when they are harmed.

"Mr. Santiago’s sentence of 20 years to life sends a strong message that acts of violence like this will not be tolerated in Westchester County. I commend our prosecutors and all of the law enforcement officers for their hard work on this case."
 
On Jan. 2, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Santiago forcibly entered his ex-girlfriend’s residence in Sleepy Hollow and shot her with a .38 caliber revolver in the presence of her young children. The 37-year-old female suffered gunshot wounds to her neck and hand and was treated at an area hospital. Santiago, who was violating an order of protection at the time of this attack, was apprehended by the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force the next day.

In February, Santiago pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, three counts of Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Aggravated Criminal Contempt, and Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, all felonies, and 11 counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Assault in the Third Degree, all misdemeanors.

In her impact statement, which was read in court today, the victim stated that after being shot, “I screamed for help and begged for my life. I was left for dead. These night terrors haunt me now in my sleep.” 
 
The Sleepy Hollow Police Department conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, Westchester County’s Real Time Crime Center, the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force and the New York City Police Department.
 
This case was prosecuted by Domestic Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Janelle Armentano and Bureau Chief Joyce Miller.

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