Pregnant woman is shot in Florida and 62-year-old ex-husband says she shot herself

APOPKA, FL – A Florida man stands accused of a violent confrontation with his ex-wife that has led to serious legal charges. Over the weekend, 62-year-old Jonathan William Erdman Frenk was taken into custody, suspected of shooting his ex-wife and allegedly attempting to blame her for the incident.

According to court documents, Frenk faces charges that include aggravated battery of a pregnant person and attempted felony murder. The case unfolded after Apopka police responded to a distress call reporting a shooting at a local residence last Saturday afternoon.

Upon reaching the scene, officers found Frenk, unarmed, exiting the home. Raising his hands in surrender, he reportedly claimed that his ex-wife, whom he described as possibly involved with drugs, had been shot in the leg.

Inside the residence, first responders encountered the injured woman, who was alert but in distress, seated and calling for assistance. Nearby, a handgun was discovered placed on a suitcase, fueling the complexity of the situation.

Initially, the woman insisted to officers that she had shot herself. However, as emergency services transported her for medical care, her statement shifted, suddenly accusing her ex-husband of the shooting, affirming, “My husband shot me.”

In a conversation with the police following the incident, the victim recounted how an argument with Frenk escalated to violence. She alleged he shouted threats to her life, armed himself, and fired at her, hitting her leg.

The affidavit details that after being shot, the victim feared for her safety so much that she contemplated telling the police she had shot herself, hoping to prevent further violence from Frenk.

Frenk’s legal team staunchly refutes the charges, arguing that the notion of a murder attempt, as outlined by law enforcement, is implausible. In court filings reviewed, they contest the logic of Frenk’s alleged actions, highlighting that the firearm used was a semi-automatic Glock, capable of firing multiple rounds. The defense questions why, if intent on murder, Frenk would stop after a single shot, seek emergency assistance, and tend to the woman’s injury.

Moreover, the defense has underscored a court order that barred the woman from contacting Frenk or approaching his domicile at the time of the incident.

Frenk is currently detained at the Orange County Jail, held without the possibility of bail, as online court records indicate. The ongoing case stirs questions about domestic tensions and legal confrontations, with a narrative marked by conflicting accounts and emerging complexities.