Mother and Infant Wounded in Domestic Disturbance Update
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(239) 477-1000
Manuel De Jesus Rosales, age 43 (2/23/67), of 1137 Gilbert Avenue South, Lehigh Acres has been charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder in connection with last night’s incident. His mugshot on this arrest will be available after transport and processing at the Lee County Jail.
According to Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Rosales and his daughter, age 21, were in an argument outside their residence when Manuel began to physically attack her. She ran into the house where a witness and the victim’s two children were located. Manuel chased her inside where he continued to threaten her. The witness attempted to intercede, but was threatened by Manuel who had retrieved a large knife. Manuel then exited the home in pursuit of his daughter.
The witness locked the doors, but moments later Manuel broke through a rear sliding glass door. The witness fled through the front door and discovered the daughter lying in the driveway with her throat cut. Manuel exited the front door holding the youngest male child who is three months old (revised from original release). He sat the child near the mother and proceeded to cut the infant’s throat so she could witness the act. He then approached his daughter and cut her throat two more times.
Both victims remain in critical condition. Updates will be provided as new information is available for release.
(original release 5/21/10)
On Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 9:10 p.m., the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a disturbance. The incident occurred at 1137 Gilbert Avenue South, Lehigh Acres, Florida. As deputies responded to the scene they were told a male subject had stabbed a woman and her infant.
Upon arrival, deputies found a woman in her early 20’s lying in a pool of blood in the driveway of the residence along with her month-old child. A male subject was outside the residence near a white van parked in the driveway. He was secured and detained for questioning. Meanwhile, EMS arrived to treat the critically injured mother and child. Both victims were airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Another young child and witness were not injured during the domestic incident. The names of the victims and suspect are not available for release at this time.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Department
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