Military Dentist Faces Multiple Felony Charges After Hours-Long Assault
Finn's Take· TL;DR- Army Major Eric Tong arrested for hours-long assault including strangulation, sexual assault, and gun threats against 21-year-old girlfriend met at church two months prior.
- Victim's coded text message and call to mother—saying "check on the tea" repeatedly—provided crucial evidence while boyfriend remained nearby undetected.
- Tong faces multiple felonies; his dental license at Fort Sam Houston remains active despite criminal charges, raising questions about professional board oversight.
Desperate Text Message Saves Woman's Life
A 21-year-old woman's quick thinking and courage saved her life during what police describe as hours of terror at the hands of her boyfriend, a military dentist. The mother of a 21-year-old woman said her daughter endured hours of terror before finding a way to secretly ask for help during an alleged assault by her boyfriend, a San Antonio military dentist now facing multiple felony charges. "She had the courage and bravery to find his phone and text me that Eric beat her, and she erased it so he could not see," the mother said.
The mother said her daughter ultimately survived by finding Tong's phone and secretly sending a text message asking for help, then deleting it so it would not be discovered. The victim's mother received the text and immediately called her daughter, creating the evidence that would lead to the arrest of 34-year-old Eric Tong.
In the recording, the mother can be heard saying, "He just beat you, and he was laughing in the background." The daughter is then heard stating, "I need to check on the tea" repeatedly, each time more urgent, before the call finally ends. The coded language allowed the victim to signal distress while Tong remained nearby.
Military Officer's Violent Escalation
San Antonio police arrested 34-year-old Eric Tong, a military dentist who previously held the rank of major, in the case. Joint Base San Antonio officials said Tong served in the Army from June 2017 until November 2025. The couple had met at church just two months earlier, according to the victim's mother.
"She woke up to Eric slapping her, he strangled her unconscious," the mother said, adding, "For her to be sexually assaulted when she woke up. She begged him to stop, and he wouldn't. He pointed a gun at her head, and it was loaded, and he told her he could kill her right now." The ordeal began after an argument Sunday night when the victim attempted to leave the relationship.
He faces charges including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful restraint. Tong was in the home at the time and was arrested on charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon, Assault on a Family/House Member Impeding Breathing, Unlawful Restraint and Assault Causing Bodily Injury to a Family Member.
Professional License Under Scrutiny
Tong's dental practice is located at Fort Sam Houston. KSAT also reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, Tong's license with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners was still listed as active. This raises questions about how professional licensing boards respond to serious criminal allegations against healthcare providers.
The case is already raising the uncomfortable question of what happens to a professional license when a health care provider is hit with serious criminal allegations. The board can open its own administrative review regardless of what happens in the criminal courts. Patients who trusted Tong with their dental care now face the unsettling reality that their healthcare provider stands accused of violent crimes.
Recovery and Justice Ahead
San Antonio police said officers responded around 1:30 p.m. Monday to the home in the 100 block of Pinecrest for the reported assault. Police said a 21-year-old woman answered the door and told officers she needed help. Officers reported seeing visible markings on her body. The physical evidence corroborated the victim's account of the assault.
The mother said her daughter faces a long physical and emotional recovery but credited her resilience for saving her life. When asked what she would say to Tong now, the mother did not hesitate. "I hope he goes to prison for life," she said.
This case highlights how domestic violence can escalate rapidly, even in relationships that appear normal from the outside. The victim's resourcefulness in secretly contacting her mother demonstrates the importance of safety planning and the critical role that family support plays in escaping dangerous situations. As Tong awaits trial, his case serves as a stark reminder that professional credentials and military service provide no immunity from accountability for violent crimes.