The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. (VIPD has not released mugshots of either suspect.) Photo: VI Consortium

Court documents state that police were called to the hotel late Wednesday night and escorted to the couple’s room, where they interviewed both parties. Rodriguez told officers that the trouble began earlier in the afternoon at the hotel’s restaurant when she and Farrugia began arguing. Hours later, the dispute continued in their room, escalating into “verbal insults and body-shaming remarks,” according to police.

Rodriguez said she was in the bathroom when Farrugia barged in, grabbed her, and bit her on the right arm. She recounted that he threw a can of soda at her, which missed, then snatched her phone and ran to the porch, threatening to throw it away. When she tried to retrieve the phone, she said Farrugia picked her up and pulled her over the balcony railing. Dangling seven stories above the ground, Rodriguez pleaded for her life. She told officers that Farrugia replied, “I don’t care if I have to go to jail.” Her screams, along with those of two women at the pool below, prompted Farrugia to pull her back to safety. Hotel security soon arrived and prevented further confrontation.

Farrugia says Rodriguez is mentally unstable

Police noted that Farrugia appeared highly intoxicated when questioned. He described his girlfriend as “mentally unstable and physically aggressive,” claiming he had been a victim of repeated theft and abuse. Farrugia showed officers photos of alleged past injuries and said that Rodriguez had struck him three times before he threw her phone over the railing.

Officers documented injuries on both parties: bruising consistent with a bite mark on Rodriguez’s right arm, and swelling and bruising around Farrugia’s left eye. Because of the conflicting accounts, visible injuries, and lack of independent witnesses, police arrested both individuals.

Farrugia faces charges of attempted murder, third-degree assault, first- and third-degree reckless endangerment, destruction of property, and disturbance of the peace as crimes of domestic violence. Rodriguez has been charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace by fighting.

Both were scheduled for advice of rights hearings on Friday before Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull. As of press time, however, court records did not confirm whether the hearings had been held.