Jake Thomas Canestrini allegedly told his girlfriend he would murder her, kill her cat, and wait 20 years to finish the job — all while holding a knife to her throat at her parents' home in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
The 24-year-old Montana man is accused of spending five days terrorizing the woman after her parents went out of town, leaving the couple alone at their residence. The alleged ordeal began around May 30 and continued through early June before the victim managed to escape.
Background
Canestrini and his girlfriend had been in a relationship for approximately three years when the woman's parents departed on travel, according to law enforcement affidavits obtained by Cowboy State Daily. With no one else present at the Rock Springs home — located roughly 260 miles west of Cheyenne — authorities say Canestrini began a campaign of violence that would leave the victim with a concussion and injuries spanning nearly every part of her body.
According to charging documents, Canestrini repeatedly threw his girlfriend to the ground and prevented her from leaving the residence. He held her on the floor for several hours at a time, continuing to strike her about the head whenever she attempted to get up. When the victim tried to run away, she says he yanked her by the hair to keep her down.
The violence escalated as days passed. On June 2, authorities say Canestrini called the woman's place of employment and told them she would not be coming into work — effectively cutting off her connection to the outside world.
"Canestrini held her on the ground for several hours and continued to hit her on the head," the affidavit reads. "She tried multiple times to get up and run away, but he would yank her by the hair to keep her down."
The Charges
Canestrini was arrested on June 16 and is currently held in Sweetwater County Detention Center. He faces one count each of kidnapping, strangulation of a household member, interference with a peace officer, and cruelty to animals. Additionally, prosecutors filed three counts each of aggravated assault and battery and domestic battery.
The alleged attacks grew increasingly disturbing as the days wore on. According to the victim, Canestrini used a razor blade to make cuts on her thighs, hips, stomach, and arm. She told investigators she was also stabbed in the back and "butt cheek" with a fork during one incident.
"I will f—ing murder you," Canestrini allegedly said while holding a knife to her throat. "I will murder your cat. I will murder your f—ing family if you get the cops involved. I will wait 20 years so I can kill you."
The woman told law enforcement that during strangulation episodes — which occurred repeatedly throughout the ordeal — she could not breathe and feared for her life. She said Canestrini once explained his violence by telling her "he did not want to do this but because she was being a b— to him, she deserved the punishment."
Medical examination revealed the victim suffered a concussion along with bruising covering much of her body, injuries to her face, arms, shoulders, legs, and knees. Investigators noted dried blood on her lips.
The abuse extended beyond the woman herself. According to charging documents, Canestrini picked up the victim's cat "and was squeezing the f— out of him." When she begged him to stop, he allegedly responded by "picking the cat up by the throat and slamming it to the floor," saying: "I will treat this cat however the f— I want."
Key Takeaways
- Jake Thomas Canestrini, 24, of Montana, is charged with kidnapping, strangulation, cruelty to animals, aggravated assault, and domestic battery following a five-day alleged attack on his girlfriend in Rock Springs, Wyo.
- Prosecutors allege the violence began after the victim's parents left town, giving Canestrini unsupervised access to her at their home.
- The victim suffered a concussion and extensive bruising across her body, according to investigators.
- Canestrini is also accused of abusing the couple's cat during the incident.
- He has pleaded not guilty to all charges; trial is scheduled for November 2.
What's Next
Canestrini remains in custody pending trial. He pleaded not guilty to all charges last week, according to reports. His trial is slated to begin on Nov. 2 in Sweetwater County District Court. The case represents one of the more serious domestic violence incidents reported in the region this year, prosecutors say.
Victim advocates are urging anyone experiencing domestic abuse to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).