Orange City, FL – The boyfriend of a 27-year-old woman who went missing for nearly a day with her 2-year-old child is now charged with hitting her.
35-year-old William Welch is facing a felony battery charge hours after the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office ended a massive search effort by finding Kristen Santee and her daughter Jorgia at a friend’s house on North Charles Avenue around noon Wednesday.
VCSO spokesman Gary Davidson says Santee admitted to investigators that she and her daughter left the 20th Street home they share with Welch late Tuesday afternoon to look at turtles and ended up staying at a friend’s home after their black Honda ATV broke down.
“During the interview, Santee became distraught and said she didn’t want to go home because Welch beats her all the time,” Davidson added. “She told investigators that on Monday, the couple was arguing when Welch struck her on both sides of her face with a pair of shoes.”
Santee also admitted that Welch has punched her in the face and held a knife to her throat in the past month, per Davidson.
A relative reported the Santees missing around 9am Wednesday, sparking a large manhunt that featured VCSO’s Air One helicopter and a helicopter from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office as well as K-9 and patrol units searching near Hontoon Island State Park.
Deputies focused on the area of Werley Trail near West French Avenue where Santee reportedly likes to ride.
VCSO says Welch’s charge was upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony because he’s been convicted previously for domestic battery in 2006 and 2011.
VCSO spokesman Andrew Gant noted that Santee was the victim in the 2011 case and that Welch is the baby’s father.
Volusia County Jail records show Welch has been booked there 10 times since July 2004, including most recently in May 2013 for petit theft. He hasn’t been booked on this latest charge as of 5pm Wednesday.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact VCSO Investigator Michael Cox at 386-943-8276.
Photo above of Kristen and Jorgia Santee is courtesy of VCSO.
William Welch (2013 mugshot courtesy of VCJ)
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.