A 62-year-old man visiting Florida from the U.K. has been released with no jail time after admitting to attacking his daughter-in-law during a violent confrontation that unfolded in a resort swimming pool earlier this year.
Polk County Circuit Judge Michelle Pincket ordered the release of Mark R. Gibbon earlier this month, crediting him with time served after he pleaded guilty to one count of battery and a lesser included offense, according to court filings. Prosecutors dropped a previous charge of attempted second-degree murder as part of the plea agreement. Gibbon must also pay $1,308.68 in fines and fees.
The case stemmed from an Aug. 3 incident at Solterra Resort in Davenport, a vacation community located less than 10 miles from Disney World. Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after 5 p.m. following reports of a “disturbance” in a backyard pool.
According to the victim and multiple witnesses, an argument broke out between Gibbon — who is from Beaconsfield, England — and his 33-year-old daughter-in-law over the “stipulations of his will.” The dispute escalated rapidly, with Gibbon accused of repeatedly forcing her underwater.
Gibbon allegedly “pushed her under the water and held her down multiple times,” the arrest affidavit stated. Deputies wrote that the woman said she couldn’t breathe and believed she was going to drown. She told investigators she struggled to escape but “he kept pushing her back under.”
The confrontation became even more alarming when the woman’s 9-year-old daughter witnessed the attack and “jumped into the pool” in an attempt to protect her mother. Authorities say Gibbon pushed the child away.
The victim managed to yell to nearby neighbors, urging them to call 911. Gibbon allegedly stopped his assault when he heard that law enforcement was being contacted.
Deputies arrested him at the scene. After being advised of his rights, Gibbon admitted he pushed his daughter-in-law underwater but insisted he had no intention of drowning her. He told authorities the two had been drinking earlier and claimed the fight erupted after she slapped him during their conversation about his will. The woman sustained minor scratches.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the case at the time, saying, “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. Because Mr. Gibbon couldn’t control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.”
