On December 3, 2025 at approximately 6:02 A.M., Minneapolis Police Officers responded to a domestic assault at a residence located within Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Upon arrival, Craig Esswein (the Defendant herein) approached officers and stated that that his girlfriend, J. T. (the Victim herein) hit him in the face with an ashtray. The Defendant had visible, bleeding injuries on his face. The Defendant stated she hit him randomly and out of nowhere. Officers entered the apartment and located the Victim sitting at the dining room table.
The Victim was crying and shaking uncontrollably. The Victim had blood running down her face. The Victim stated that the Defendant became upset with her because she wasn't interested in have sex with him. The Defendant began to yell, so the Victim [NAME REDACTED]. The Defendant followed her and threatened, "I will fracture you." Over the course of two hours, the Defendant yelled at her, began throwing items at her, and then flipped the mattress the Victim [NAME REDACTED]. The Victim screamed for help and tried to push the Defendant away.
At some point, the Defendant got on top of the Victim and began gouging her eyes with his thumbs. The Victim doesn't remember hitting him with an ashtray, but stated it could have been when she was defending herself. The Victim showed officers a 17 minute recording of a portion of the altercation. In the recording, the Defendant is yelling at the Victim and says "I will fracture you." The Victim is one of the Defendant's family or household members under Minn. Stat. 518B.01, subd. 2, as the Victim and Defendant are romantic partners.
Hennepin County Court records reveal that on August 29, 2018, the Defendant was convicted of Threats of Violence (Court File Number ••-CR-••-••••).
