Woman, 65, dies from ‘inhumane attack' over purse at Tampa park: sheriff
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A young man has been charged with murder following the death of a woman who Hillsborough County deputies said he brutally beat over 'nothing more than a purse.'
The alleged attack happened a day after Christmas, on Dec. 26, 2024, at the University Area Community Park, located on North 22nd Street in Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Wife of slain Tarpon Springs doctor ordered to pay nearly $200 million
Deputies said they found the victim, Cerida Charon, 65, in the area around 7 a.m. that morning. According to authorities, she had suffered several severe injuries, including multiple broken bones and a brain bleed.
Surveillance video showed the suspect, Antonio Gueits, 18, approach Charon at the park, the sheriff's office said. He then struck her in the face, which officials said caused her to collapse.
In the video, Charon could be seen lying unconscious on the ground as Gueits repeatedly stomped on her head, investigators said. He then ran from the area after grabbing her purse.
Gueits was taken into custody later that same day after detectives said they were able to positively identify him as a suspect. However, his charges have now been upgraded.
Deputies said Charon remained hospitalized for months after the attack, but ultimately succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, March 16.
An autopsy conducted by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that she died from complications from blunt force head trauma, and her manner of death was ruled a homicide, the sheriff's office said.
As a result, Gueits was charged with first-degree murder on Monday, March 17.
'This was a completely senseless and inhumane attack over nothing more than a purse,' Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a release announcing the upgraded charges. 'This innocent woman was left unconscious, suffering, and fighting for her life for months because of this man's horrific actions. Now, with her tragic passing, we will make sure he is held fully accountable for this brutal crime.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
6 hours ago
- The Hill
Person who wrote bomb threat on Florida flight sought by FBI
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The FBI Tampa Field Office is searching for a passenger who seemingly wrote a bomb threat on an Allegiant flight at Florida's St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Investigators said the threat was found on Allegiant Airlines Flight #2006's lavatory door on April 25. The flight was departing St. Pete-Clearwater Airport and headed to Cincinnati. The crew discovered the threat while the plane was taxiing from the gate before departure. The person wrote, 'Bomb on flight check cargo. All Allegiant flight.' (FBI Tampa) The plane was evacuated but no device was found after an extensive search. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the FBI's Tampa Field Office at (813) 253-1000. You can also submit a tip online at
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wesley Chapel family says dog survived alligator attack in their backyard
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A family in Wesley Chapel is traumatized after their rescue dog was attacked by an alligator in their backyard. A video shows Zeus, a German Shepherd, standing on a leash with a gator lurking just beyond the fence, a chilling moment the family now views as a warning. 'We have a doggy door, and Zeus will go in and out of it whenever he wants,' said Susan Alkhatib. 'We have it covered right now because of what happened.' 4 dolphins from Florida park involved in criminal investigation moved to Clearwater Marine Aquarium Earlier this week, Zeus stepped outside like any other night, only this time, an alligator was waiting. 'All of a sudden, I couldn't hear him anymore,' one family member recalled. 'My dad came in frantic. I'd never seen him like that. He said, 'The alligator just took Zeus.'' Alkhatib and her family ran outside with flashlights and caught a glimpse of Zeus struggling in the pond with the gator still latched onto him. 'The alligator had just let go of Zeus,' Alkhatib said. 'We started yelling at him to come toward us. When he got closer, he got tired. So we had to kind of go into the pond a little bit to get him.' While News Channel 8 was interviewing the family, a gator emerged from the water again before slipping back in. 'I have a 7-year-old sister,' said one family member. 'And I just think, if she was at the fence, would he have done the same thing to her?' Zeus miraculously survived the attack. He suffered a fractured and displaced jaw, along with multiple puncture wounds around his neck. 'The vet said it looked like his whole head was in the gator's mouth,' said Alkhatib. 'Even he said, 'I don't know how he survived.'' 'I honestly can't believe he is alive,' Alkhatib said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has sent out trappers, but so far, they have not been able to capture the gator. Zeus is now recovering from several surgeries. The family has started a GoFundMe to help pay for his veterinary bills. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hillsborough County deputies make arrests in shooting that injured teen
The Brief Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office have made arrests in connection with a shooting that injured a teenager on Wednesday. Detectives said they found evidence connected to the shooting inside a bedroom belonging to a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old. A 38-year-old man was also arrested for driving with a suspended license when deputies said they found him driving the vehicle linked to the suspected shooter. PROGRESS VILLAGE, Fla. - Two teenage felons have been arrested in connection with a shooting that injured a teenager on Wednesday. The backstory According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies went to the area of South 81st Street and Fir Drive shortly before 12:40 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies found a teenager suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. READ: Driver on Dale Mabry Highway claimed to have bomb in car, used drugs in front of officers: TPD Detectives said they identified the suspected shooter's vehicle and found it in Riverview. When they pulled the vehicle over, deputies said the driver, Antonio House, 38, was taken into custody for driving on a suspended license. Dig deeper A search warrant was executed where House was staying and that's where deputies said they recovered multiple guns. According to HCSO, a Glock .40 caliber handgun recovered from inside the home was ballistically matched to the casings recovered at the scene of the shooting. The HCSO Firearms Laboratory conducted the analysis and confirmed the connection between the gun and the crime scene. READ:Woman, child escape fire that destroyed New Port Richey home: PCFR While inside the home, detectives said they recovered evidence linked to the shooting inside a bedroom that was shared by Jaheim House, 18, and a 17-year-old male. Both were taken into custody. The 17-year-old has been charged with felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and resisting an officer without violence. House was charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery great bodily harm or deadly weapon firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and resisting an officer without violence. What they're saying "We will not allow our neighborhoods to become places of violence," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "This kind of behavior has no place in our community. We remain committed to protecting our residents and ensuring that violent offenders are held fully accountable." The Source This story was written with information provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
