Women Describe Acts of Violence

An Oxnard heroin dealer accused of torturing a 14-month-old boy to death two years ago, testified that he never abused the women or children of previous relationships.

But a former girlfriend and a former sister-in-law took the stand in Ventura County Superior Court on Tuesday to tell a different story.

The women described Patrick Santillano, 34, as a short-tempered drug addict who blew his fuse and acted violently toward his young children and stepchildren, especially when he couldn’t get his fix.

Santillano is charged with murder, torture, child abuse causing death, and aggravated mayhem in connection with the death of Demitri Robledo on Oct. 22, 2000. The infant was left in the care of Santillano’s ex-girlfriend, Teresa Rodriguez, while the boy’s mother served time on drug charges.

Last week, Rodriguez testified that Santillano beat, starved and gagged Demitri. But, she said, the worst abuse came when Demitri’s crying interrupted Santillano’s efforts to inject himself with heroin.

On the stand Tuesday, Alice Renae Sigala, who had three children with Santillano, described her ex-boyfriend’s temper when he wanted to get high.

“He would get real mad, frustrated,” Sigala said.

She described their relationship as stormy and told of a fight when she threatened to leave and Santillano threatened to kill her. Santillano punched Sigala, who was eight months pregnant, and locked her and her three children in a bedroom, she said.

Although Santillano was never physically abusive to their first two children, he seemed to treat Frances, her daughter from another relationship, differently, Sigala said. One time, Santillano pulled the girl by the hair after she tried to get his attention, Sigala said.

“I said, ‘She’s just a baby; she’s trying to show you something she did at school,’ ” Sigala testified. “He didn’t hurt them -- just Frances that time -- and I’d tell him, ‘You treat her differently because she’s not yours.’ ”

Mary Annette Torres, Santillano’s sister-in-law from his first marriage, testified he whipped his wife’s 4-year-old son from a previous relationship with a belt as punishment for dropping potato chips into a tub of butter.

Prior to the women’s testimony and during cross-examination, Santillano denied that any of these incidents happened.

“It’s shameful,” Santillano said. “It’s monstrous, and it’s embarrassing sitting here in this position being blamed for something like that,” he said when asked why he looked down when asked direct questions about Demitri’s abuse.

Defense attorneys maintain that Rodriguez killed Demitri.

Closing arguments are expected Thursday.