On October 31, 2025, around 8:33 P.M., officers with the Faribault Police Department were dispatched to a residence in Faribault, Rice County, Minnesota on a report of a physical domestic. Dispatch notes stated a mother and daughter were fighting, the mother had been drinking, a bat was involved and someone was injured. When officers arrived at the residence, a female identified as MARGARITA RUIZ PADILLA [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, opened the front door. She advised that her daughter, Victim 1, was downstairs.
Officers went downstairs and spoke with Victim 1 who said she lives with the defendant. Victim 1 said she was sleeping in her bedroom when the defendant tried to open her locked bedroom door. Victim 1’s dog started barking and Victim 1 got out of bed, partially opened the door and told the defendant to stop. The defendant went to her own bedroom and grabbed a baseball bat. She came back to Victim 1’s bedroom and hit Victim 1’s dog with the bat. The defendant then attempted to hit Victim 1 with the bat.
Victim 1 grabbed the bat from the defendant as she swung it at Victim 1 and threw it away from them. The defendant then began to pull Victim 1’s hair. Victim 1 told the defendant to stop. The defendant would not stop, and Victim 1 tried to push the defendant away from her. The defendant started to hit Victim 1. The altercation continued into the living room until Victim 1 was able to push the defendant into the defendant’s bedroom. Victim 1 retreated to her own bedroom, locked the door and called 911. Victim 1 stated the defendant had been drinking alcohol.
Victim 1 told officers that the defendant has a gambling problem. Victim 1 believes the defendant started the altercation because Victim 1 planned to move out the day after this incident. She had been paying the defendant monthly rent, and the defendant would no longer be receiving that income. Victim 1 also stated the defendant rents out the house but is behind on bills and is losing the home. Officers noted Victim 1 was visibly shaken while speaking with officers. They photographed Victim 1’s right hand which appeared to have blood on it.
Victim 1 also sustained a cut to her bottom lip. Officers located a baseball bat laying on the floor in the defendant’s bedroom. Victim 1’s father and the defendant’s husband, J. J., then arrived on scene. He admitted to officers that the defendant has been assaulting Victim 1 the last few weeks and that the defendant can be very violent. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
