Mark Gibbon, from Beaconsfield, was arguing with his 33-year-old daughter-in-law in a swimming pool inside the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida, when he allegedly tried to drown her
A British tourist has been charged after allegedly attempting to drown his daughter-in-law during a family holiday in Florida.
Mark Gibbon, 62, from Beaconsfield, was arguing with his 33-year-old daughter-in-law in a swimming pool inside the luxury Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida, when he allegedly tried to drown her.
According to police, officers were called to the home after neighbours reported a “disturbance in a backyard swimming pool” on Sunday. It comes as a man brutally killed a woman on first date and left her body parts around town.
The daughter-in-law told authorities that Gibbon had pushed and held her head underwater multiple times during the argument. Her 9-year-old daughter was forced to jump into the pool to try to stop the alleged drowning.
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Gibbon only stopped the attempted drowning after two sisters on holiday next door called police, according to authorities.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Gibbon may be spending “a lot more time in Florida than he anticipated” after the alleged attack.
The 62-year-old was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail where he has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, and battery.
Polk County Sheriff said: “Gibbon is accused of pushing and holding the victim’s head under water multiple times, preventing her from breathing.
“The victim stated that Gibbon only stopped after a pair of sisters from Ohio who were vacationing next door said that they called the Sheriff’s Office.”
Mr Judd said holidaymakers must behave themselves if they visit Florida. “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 added.
It comes as a son is accused of leaving his 73-year-old dad to die in a bathtub after allegedly setting fire to his home, according to police.
Clinton Hadley, 40, has been charged with murder after he admitted to intentionally burning down his father’s home and leaving his father to die. The suspect was seen driving away from the home in Texas before smoke exited the house. 73-year-old Floyd Hadley called 999 on July 21 to try and plead for help, but he was unable to get out of the bathtub.
When emergency services arrived, the home was engulfed in flames. Tragically, the dad was found dead in a bathtub. A preliminary autopsy indicated he had smoke in his lungs.
According to Clinton Hadley’s aunt, a day before the fire, she had called the police and asked for a welfare check at the home after he made comments “about setting the home on fire.” It is unclear if a welfare check was carried out.
On the day of the fire, CCTV showed the suspect jumping a fence and entering a parked car in the driveway. Ten seconds later, he drives away, as smoke is seen coming from the back of the home. The car was found to belong to Clinton Hadley, who was arrested on July 23.
In custody, he admitted to starting the Texas house fire, according to court documents. “Clinton admitted to detectives he knowingly and intentionally set fire to furniture in his room, before fleeing in his vehicle,” police said.
“Clinton admitted he wanted to burn the house down and get away from his family.”