UK tourist on vacation in Florida charged with trying to drown daughter-in-law in fight at lux resort
Mark Raymond, 62, from Beaconsfield, England, allegedly held his daughter-in-law's head under water at the luxury Solterra Resort near Orlando — as his terrified 9-year-old granddaughter fought to stop him, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
'The victim told detectives that she and Gibbon began arguing about his grandchildren,' the office said in a release.
Mark Raymond, accused of trying to kill his daughter-in-law at a Florida resort.
: Polk County Sheriff's Office
Aerial view of Solterra Resort pool and clubhouse.
Google Earth
Raymond allegedly kept shoving his daughter-in-law's head under the water, 'preventing her from breathing,' the sheriff's office said.
The struggle continued even after his 9-year-old granddaughter leaped into the pool to save her mom, according to cops.
He finally released his daughter-in-law after two bystanders called the cops, authorities said.
Raymond has been charged with two counts of battery and one count of second-degree murder.
The alleged crime happened at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, a sprawling luxury getaway that offers private villas — with prices of up to $800 a night.
The resort's massive pool has artificial rock features, a water slide, and a lazy river.
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CNN
9 hours ago
- CNN
British man charged with trying to drown daughter-in-law in Florida swimming pool
CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow A British holidaymaker has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to drown his daughter-in-law in a Florida swimming pool, authorities have said. Mark Raymond Gibbon, 62, was on vacation at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida, with his family when deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office were called to a disturbance in a backyard swimming pool on Sunday evening, the sheriff's office said in a post on X. According to the victim and witnesses, Gibbon was in the swimming pool with his 33-year-old daughter-in-law when the pair started arguing about his grandchildren, said the sheriff's office. Authorities said Gibbon is from Beaconsfield, England, about 25 miles west of London. 'Gibbon is accused of pushing and holding the victim's head under water multiple times, preventing her from breathing,' reads the statement posted on X Monday. 'The victim's 9-year old daughter jumped into the pool in an attempt to stop Gibbon from drowning her mother.' Gibbon only stopped when a pair of sisters in the neighbouring vacation rental said they had called the police, the sheriff's office said, citing the victim's statement. Gibbon was arrested and has been charged with battery and attempted second-degree murder. 'It's great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect our lifelong residents to do the same,' said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in the statement. 'Because Mr. Gibbon couldn't control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.'
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
British man charged after attempting to drown daughter-in-law during Florida vacation: police
A British man vacationing with family in Florida was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly tried to drown his daughter-in-law during an argument about grandchildren. Mark Raymond Gibbon, 62, who is from Beaconsfield, England, was charged with attempted second-degree murder and two counts of battery, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Gibbon was arguing with his 33-year-old daughter-in-law in a swimming pool at a vacation home when he allegedly tried to drown her. The incident took place Sunday afternoon at a home inside the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida. Deputies arrived at the location after neighbors reported a "disturbance in a backyard swimming pool," the sheriff's office said. The woman told detectives that Gibbon pushed and held her head underwater multiple times during the argument and her 9-year-old daughter jumped into the pool to try and stop the attempted drowning. Gibbon did stop attempting to drown the woman, but allegedly only after two sisters vacationing in a home next door said they had called the sheriff's office. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said tourists are welcome in the county, but they are expected to be on their best behavior. "It's great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect our lifelong residents to do the same," Judd said. The sheriff also said Gibbon's lack of control may lead to "a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated." Gibbon is in the South County Jail in Polk County with no bond.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
UK tourist on vacation in Florida charged with trying to drown daughter-in-law in fight at lux resort
An Englishman's getaway across the pond ended with him in a jail cell with an attempted murder charge — after he allegedly tried to drown his daughter-in-law in the pool. Mark Raymond, 62, from Beaconsfield, England, allegedly held his daughter-in-law's head under water at the luxury Solterra Resort near Orlando — as his terrified 9-year-old granddaughter fought to stop him, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. 'The victim told detectives that she and Gibbon began arguing about his grandchildren,' the office said in a release. Mark Raymond, accused of trying to kill his daughter-in-law at a Florida resort. : Polk County Sheriff's Office Aerial view of Solterra Resort pool and clubhouse. Google Earth Raymond allegedly kept shoving his daughter-in-law's head under the water, 'preventing her from breathing,' the sheriff's office said. The struggle continued even after his 9-year-old granddaughter leaped into the pool to save her mom, according to cops. He finally released his daughter-in-law after two bystanders called the cops, authorities said. Raymond has been charged with two counts of battery and one count of second-degree murder. The alleged crime happened at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, a sprawling luxury getaway that offers private villas — with prices of up to $800 a night. The resort's massive pool has artificial rock features, a water slide, and a lazy river.
