A 62-year-old British man has been arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder after allegedly trying to drown his daughter-in-law during a family holiday in Florida. The incident occurred at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, located near the Walt Disney World Resort.
Family Dispute Turns Violent
The suspect, Mark Gibbon from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, reportedly got into a heated argument with his 33-year-old daughter-in-law over his grandchildren while they were in the swimming pool of their holiday rental home. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the disagreement escalated when Gibbon allegedly pushed the woman and held her head underwater multiple times, preventing her from breathing.
Young Girl Intervenes to Save the Victim
The Sheriff’s statement noted that a young girl jumped into the pool in an effort to stop Gibbon’s assault. Despite her intervention, the alleged attack continued until two neighboring sisters, who were also vacationing at the resort, witnessed the incident and alerted authorities. Only then did Gibbon reportedly stop.
Sheriff: “He May Spend More Time in Florida Than Expected”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued a strong statement condemning the violence:
“It’s great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us. Because Mr Gibbon couldn’t control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.”
Gibbon has been taken to Polk County Jail and formally charged with attempted second-degree murder and two counts of battery. The woman survived the attack and is recovering. The investigation remains ongoing.
