Advertisement Estranged husband charged with domestic violence death of wife Vigil held Friday night for Roxana Abrudan, other domestic abuse victims Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Felony charges have been filed against a man who police say attacked and killed his wife with a hatchet in Mount Pleasant Wednesday.VIDEO: DA: Husband hunted wife to kill herCristian Loga-Negru, 38, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mayhem and kidnapping after police said he fatally injured his wife in a hatchet attack.According to the complaint, officers were called to the 600 block of Calvin Lane around 8:20 p.m. for a report of a woman being dragged into a car.The witness told police that Roxana Abrudan, 36,of Arlington Heights, Ill., had been staying in her home for about a month as she was hiding from an abusive relationship with Loga-Negru.The witness told police that Abrudan came to the home in October after a domestic battery incident in Illinois. The witness said Abrudan worked at his cleaning service, and told police that Loga-Negru was stalking Abrudan and trying to locate her."He was lying in wait in that rented vehicle with binoculars, with that hatchet, waiting for the opportunity to strike," Racine County District Attorney Richard Chiapete said.The witness said he heard Abrudan pull up in his truck, then heard a loud scream. He told police he saw the truck's door open and a trail of blood running from the truck to the street.A neighbor across the street told police he saw Loga-Negru assaulting Abrudan and drag her along the curb line of the street. He said he then saw Loga-Negru place Abrudan in his SUV and drive off.Officers at the Calvin Lane scene found a large amount of blood, as well as two fingers and human hair.The complaint states that officers were then called to the parking lot of the Super 8 motel shortly after, where a vehicle matching the description of the original scene was found.The complaint states that an officer found Loga-Negru standing over the back seat of his SUV, with Abrudan's body in the seat. The officer said Abrudan's body was limp and lifeless but that she was breathing.Paramedics found Abrudan sustained several chop wounds on her head and hands, caused by a hatchet found at the Calvin Lane scene.According to the complaint, Loga-Negru was staying at the hotel. Police located his father, who was at the hotel and had traveled to the United States from Romania to "deal with his son."The father told police that Loga-Negru had left the hotel room stating that he would be gone for about an hour. According to the complaint, Loga-Negru returned to the room with his clothing stained in blood. The father told police that when he asked what happened, Loga-Negru said "I killed Roxana" and stated that she was in the car.When Loga-Negru was confronted by police at the scene, an officer said that Loga-Negru said, "I can stand a lot of smells, but not her blood on me." An officer said Loga-Negru asked for the death penalty and asked for officers to shoot him."I think he's a tremendous danger to the community. This was a domestic abuse case that's been obviously ongoing for a significant period of time. I believe he hunted her down," Chiapete said.The charges against Loga-Negru carry domestic violence enhancers. He faces life in prison if convicted.He is being held without bail.Vigil for Roxana Abrudan The Women's Center of Racine organized a vigil Friday evening to not only remember Abrudan but to call attention to domestic violence.Even though she had only been living in the area for a few weeks, people who never knew her were there, hoping her death can bring attention to the dangers of domestic violence and encourage people who may be in a similar situation to get help.The center's executive director read a note written by the couple who tried to help Abrudan hide from her husband in their Mount Pleasant home."She will be sorely missed and always remembered by us. In the short time we knew her, we all grew to love her,” Cherrie Griffin said.Abrudan had been staying with her boss and his wife for about a month before she was killed Wednesday night.In the short time she was here, she had reached out for help.Workers at the Women's Resource Center said Abrudan was in a volatile situation.“When they're taking steps to safety and severing the relationship, that's when they're most at risk,” Griffin said.Many domestic abuse survivors who never met Abrudan lit a candle in honor of her memory."When I heard about it, my heart just dropped and knowing that all these people came together to be a part of it,” domestic abuse survivor Brittany Goetz said.Organizers are urging any victims of domestic violence to reach out to the many resources available and ask for help.Click here for domestic violence resources