DAVENPORT, FL – A British tourist on vacation in Central Florida faces attempted murder charges after authorities say he repeatedly forced his daughter-in-law underwater during a heated dispute about his will, only stopping when his granddaughter and neighbors intervened.
Mark Raymond Gibbon, 62, of Beaconsfield, England, was arrested Sunday evening at a vacation home within the Solterra Resort in Davenport, located just southwest of Orlando and near major theme parks. Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a disturbance at the property’s backyard swimming pool shortly after 5 p.m.
According to investigators, Gibbon and his 33-year-old daughter-in-law were engaged in an argument involving the terms of his will when the confrontation escalated into physical violence. Witnesses, including Gibbon’s 9-year-old granddaughter, told deputies Gibbon shoved the victim underwater several times despite her efforts to escape.
The woman later recounted to deputies that she struggled to free herself, at times fearing she would lose consciousness and drown. Each attempt to surface was met with renewed force, pushing her repeatedly under the water, according to the arrest report.
As the struggle continued, the victim’s young daughter witnessed the altercation and jumped into the water in an attempt to help her mother. Authorities say Gibbon pushed the child away as she tried to intervene. The commotion drew the attention of nearby neighbors, who the victim managed to alert, prompting them to call 911.
Authorities said Gibbon only let the woman go after learning law enforcement had been summoned. Deputies arrived minutes later and took him into custody without further incident. Investigators said that after being read his rights, Gibbon admitted to forcibly submerging his daughter-in-law, but denied any intent to kill her, stating that both had been drinking prior to the fight and that the argument turned physical after she allegedly slapped him.
The victim sustained minor injuries in the incident, suffering a few scratches. Gibbon was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of attempted second-degree murder and battery and is being held without bond. His next court appearance is set for September 9.
The case has drawn attention both locally and in Gibbon’s home community of Beaconsfield. Neighbors there described the relationship between Gibbon and his daughter-in-law, Jasmine Wyld, as complicated, with some referring to Wyld as Gibbon’s girlfriend. Reports from the area indicate longstanding family tensions and prior altercations.
Family insiders point to a major falling out approximately four years ago, alleging that Gibbon’s son, Alex, discovered Wyld in his father’s bed, which reportedly led to a significant family rift. The situation further deteriorated when Alex was sentenced to jail for driving into his father with a luxury SUV during a public argument. Since his release six months ago, Alex has remained estranged from his father.
Alex and Wyld, who separated in 2021, share two young children. Neighbors and acquaintances from Beaconsfield expressed shock at the news of the recent Florida incident, describing the family drama as an ongoing source of turmoil.
Gibbon now awaits legal proceedings in Florida, facing the possibility of an extended stay in the U.S. far longer than he had planned.