UPDATE: A British man has been arrested in Florida after allegedly attempting to drown his daughter-in-law during a heated argument. Mark Raymond Gibbon, aged 62 and from Beaconsfield, England, faces serious charges including attempted second-degree murder and two counts of battery following the shocking incident on July 16, 2023.
The confrontation occurred at a vacation home located within the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the scene after neighbors reported a “disturbance in a backyard swimming pool.” The argument erupted over issues surrounding grandchildren, escalating to the point where Gibbon allegedly pushed his 33-year-old daughter-in-law underwater multiple times.
Witness accounts reveal that the woman’s 9-year-old daughter bravely jumped into the pool in a desperate attempt to protect her mother from the attack. Gibbon allegedly ceased his actions only after two neighboring sisters informed him that the sheriff’s office had been contacted.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his dismay over the incident, emphasizing that while tourists are welcomed to the area, they are expected to behave appropriately. “It’s great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us,” Judd stated, adding that Gibbon may end up spending “a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.”
Currently, Gibbon is being held in the South County Jail without bond, facing severe legal repercussions for his actions.
As this story develops, authorities urge anyone with further information about the incident to come forward. This disturbing event raises critical questions about safety in vacation spots and the behavior of tourists. Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding situation.
