The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
Two sisters in Florida spent the night in jail after allegedly attacking each other during a dispute about the eulogy at their father’s funeral.
On the afternoon of January 23, mourners gathered at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Clearwater Beach for the funeral service and reception of a 95-year-old local man. His daughters, ages 60 and 66, were in attendance, and the eldest sibling gave a eulogy. She failed to include the name of her 24-year-old niece in the tribute, and the girl and her mother were unhappy about the oversight.
It was reported that the woman approached her aunt and began talking to her about the situation, and it escalated to a heated exchange. When her mother noticed what was happening, she went over to the pair with the purported intention of sticking up for her daughter. When she confronted her sister, she allegedly slammed into the woman’s chest with her chest. She started to walk away, and her sister reportedly grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back. Having her hair pulled allegedly caused her to strike the woman multiple times.
The authorities were notified, and the Clearwater Police Department sent law enforcement to the church to investigate. Video from the surveillance camera was collected and reviewed, and according to the police report, it was believed that the women “both engaged in the physical altercation mutually.”
The pair was taken into custody and booked into the Pinellas County jail on preliminary charges of battery. The younger woman was charged with a felony since her sister is over 65 years old. The following day, they were each released on their own recognizance and were ordered to have no contact with each other.
If you or someone you love is suspected of an assault or battery offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.