British Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Daughter-in-Law Over Family Dispute in Florida

Mark Gibbon, 62, allegedly attempted to drown his daughter-in-law during a heated dispute over grandchildren while vacationing in Florida. He now faces serious charges following the incident.

A British man is facing severe legal repercussions after being charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to drown his daughter-in-law in a swimming pool during a family vacation in Florida. Mark Gibbon, 62, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was staying at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, close to the popular Disney World Resort, when a family argument over his grandchildren led to the alleged attack.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Department, the incident occurred while Gibbon and his 33-year-old daughter-in-law were engaged in a heated discussion in the pool. Reports suggest that he pushed her head underwater multiple times, obstructing her ability to breathe. Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the community's expectations for visitor behavior, stating, “Because Mr. Gibbon couldn't control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.”

The conflict reportedly escalated quickly, prompting a young girl to leap into the pool in a brave attempt to rescue the woman from Gibbon's grasp. Eyewitness accounts indicate that two sisters vacationing next door intervened by calling the authorities, which ultimately led to Gibbon's cessation of the attack. He was arrested and now faces charges of attempted second-degree murder as well as two counts of battery, with the case drawing attention to the severe consequences of vacation altercations.