A Florida man, Douglas Naeher, has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly attacked his wife during a fishing trip off the coast of Holmes Beach. The incident took place on July 20, 2023, over 30 miles from shore, after Naeher became enraged when his fishing line snapped.
The Fishing Trip Turned Violent
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the couple had set off at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning in Naeher’s 30-foot Sterling boat. They were headed to a fishing spot 33 miles off the coast of Bean Point. As they journeyed, Naeher’s wife noticed that he seemed upset, more irritable than usual, and not as talkative.
Once they reached their destination, Naeher started fishing, but his frustration grew after his fishing line snapped. According to the affidavit, he became “irate” and began acting aggressively. To avoid a confrontation, Naeher’s wife decided to get into the water, floating on a pool noodle and holding onto a rope tied to the boat.
A Deadly Turn of Events
While she was floating in the water, Naeher allegedly untied the rope she was holding and put the boat in gear, taking off and leaving her behind. The woman later told police that she believed Naeher was intentionally leaving her out to die. It wasn’t until another boat appeared in the distance that Naeher allegedly returned to retrieve her.
Once back in the boat, Naeher began to viciously attack his wife, repeatedly punching her on the right side of her head. He then stomped on her head with both feet, causing the victim to lose consciousness multiple times. Fearing for her life, the woman pretended to be dead and tried to slow her breathing to survive.
Strangulation and Continued Assault
After stopping the beating, Naeher allegedly dragged his wife by her hair to the back of the boat and into the water, where he tried to strangle her by placing both hands around her throat. As she gasped for air, Naeher allegedly threatened to kill her, saying, “I’m going to f—ing kill you.”
Despite the severe attacks, the woman continued to fight for her life. She managed to cling onto the boat’s ladder, but Naeher allegedly tried to drag her behind the boat. She fought desperately to stay above water, and as he believed he had left her behind, she pulled herself back onto the boat once more.
Naeher, realizing she had returned to the boat, shoved her overboard a second time. The victim, however, managed to grab a rope dangling from the rear of the boat, tying it around her ankle to hold on. She pulled herself aboard again, this time jumping off the boat as Naeher attempted to grab her.
Aftermath and Arrest
Naeher’s wife suffered a concussion and multiple contusions from the brutal assault. Once she jumped from the boat, she managed to escape, and authorities were alerted to the violent incident. Naeher was arrested on Thursday without bond, and his wife is recovering from the physical and emotional trauma.
The attack has shocked the community, and Naeher is now facing serious charges, including attempted murder, after what began as a seemingly routine fishing trip turned into a horrific assault.
