Waco man accused of assaulting wife in front of seven children

Rory Antonio Guajardo Jr.
Rory Antonio Guajardo Jr.(KWTX GRAPHIC)
Published: Jul. 8, 2024 at 5:17 PM CDT

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A Waco man who police say assaulted his wife in front of seven children on Sunday was released from jail Monday after posting bonds totaling $7,000.

Police charged Rory Antonio Guajardo Jr., 26, with continuous violence against the family after children who witnessed the alleged assault reported Guajardo had assaulted his wife at least three times since June. He also was jailed on an interference with an emergency request for assistance charge.

Police were called to an apartment in the 2400 block of South 21st Street about 12:30 p.m. Sunday by a 14-year-old girl in the home, who texted police for help. The girl said her parents were in a physical altercation and told police the seven children inside the apartment were scared.

The woman told police Guajardo accused her of cheating on him and took her phone away from her. She said she tried to leave Guajardo “multiple times in the past,” adding that he became “irate and began grabbing her and throwing her around,” according to an arrest affidavit.

The woman reported that Guajardo pushed her against a wall and yelled, “You are not going to leave me.” Police noted what they characterized as “defensive scratches” on Guajardo’s neck, the affidavit alleges.

The 14-year-old girl told police that Guajardo struck her mother about two weeks ago during another argument over his suspicions that she was cheating on him. She also reported that Guajardo hit her again during an argument in early June.

“These other instances were also witnessed by the children in the home,” the affidavit alleges. “As (the woman) was already attempting to leave Rory and the abusive relationship, the assaults were not reported to the police.”

The woman corroborated what the girl told police about the assaults, according to the affidavit. She also told police that she was using her son’s phone because Guajardo took her phone and smashed it on the ground and had previously destroyed his own phone. He also ripped the virtual voice device known as “Alexa” off the wall when she tried to get Alexa to all 911, she reported.