Illegal immigrant allegedly grabbed Florida beachgoer by throat, tried to drown her in random attack
Authorities say a woman survived a violent attack on a Florida beach after being ambushed from behind, dragged into the water, and left for dead.
The suspect, 26-year-old Venezuelan national Said Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez, allegedly carried out the late-night assault Thursday at Tiger Shores Beach in Stuart, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff John Budensiek described the incident as “extremely alarming” and noted that Gonzalez had overstayed his work visa.
The victim, who was walking alone along the shoreline around 11 p.m. while on the phone, reported that Gonzalez struck her from behind, pulled her hair, and forced her head underwater. She said she tried to time her breaths with the waves but eventually lost consciousness.
Police say Gonzalez then threw the victim’s phone into the ocean, returned to his car to consume alcohol and marijuana, and left the scene. The woman later regained consciousness and walked more than a mile to Stuart Beach, where deputies found her with visible bruising.
Gonzalez was taken into custody Sunday after a tipster reported he was threatening suicide and claiming to have killed a woman on a beach. According to authorities, he confessed to the assault, stating that the victim had made him “angry” and later told police, “I don’t feel nothing,” when asked about remorse.
He faces charges of attempted murder and is also under a federal immigration detainer. Gonzalez remains held at Martin County Jail.
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