Aurora man accused of beating wife’s head with hammer

An Aurora man is accused of beating his wife with a hammer early Wednesday morning, causing massive head injuries, according to police.

Camilo Rivera of the 400 block of Clark Street was charged with attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery and is being held at the Aurora police lockup pending a bond hearing Thursday.

Police and paramedics responding to the couple’s home at 2:07 a.m. found Rivera’s 39-year-old wife in bed suffering from massive head injuries, according to authorities.

Police said Rivera attacked his wife with a hammer while she was sleeping. Four of the couple’s children, who are between the ages of 15 and 21, were also sleeping during the attack, and three were awaken by their mother’s screams, according to police.

The children came to their mother’s aid and called 911, police said.

Rivera was still in the residence when police arrived and was taken into custody without incident.

Officers recovered the hammer that is suspected to have been used in the attack.

Paramedics rushed the victim to Provena Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora. She was then airlifted to another suburban hospital for treatment and is currently listed in critical condition with possibly life-threatening injuries, according to police.