A Summerfield man and his sister landed behind bars after they allegedly teamed up to attack the man’s ex-girlfriend.
Hercilio Caraballo Jr., 53, and his sister, Idaliz Caraballo, 52, were arrested Tuesday afternoon by deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office following the violent altercation.
According to the arrest affidavits, Hercilio and the victim had been in an intimate relationship and lived together until breaking up about a week prior. They currently live in separate residences on the same property.
The incident began when Hercilio confronted his ex-girlfriend at her home, believing she had the keys to a vehicle that was being sold. The victim told deputies Hercilio became verbally aggressive, yelling at her in close proximity before balling his right hand into a fist and threatening her.
The confrontation quickly escalated to physical violence. The victim stated Hercilio punched her in the face and then placed a hand around her throat, applying enough pressure to restrict her airway.
As the attack unfolded, Hercilio’s sister, Idaliz, allegedly jumped into the fray. The victim told deputies that Idaliz grabbed her by the hair and violently pulled her to the ground.
When deputies arrived, they observed visible injuries on the victim that corroborated her story. Her hair and clothing were disheveled, and she had a black-and-blue contusion on her right temple along with marks around her neck consistent with being strangled.
Both siblings attempted to point the finger at the victim. Hercilio claimed his ex-girlfriend slapped him in the face and that he was merely trying to separate her from his sister. Idaliz offered a similar story, claiming she rushed over from another part of the yard to break up the fight after seeing the victim slap her brother.
However, after being read their Miranda warnings, neither sibling could explain how the victim sustained the severe injuries to her face and throat. Deputies noted the inconsistencies in their stories and determined both Hercilio and Idaliz were the primary aggressors.
Both suspects have a history of violent offenses. A background check revealed Hercilio was convicted of aggravated battery in 2005 and a second or subsequent battery charge in 2016.
Similarly, Idaliz was previously convicted in 2011 on a charge of battery on a person 65 years of age or older.
Hercilio was booked at the Marion County Jail on felony charges of domestic battery by strangulation and battery, as well as a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He was initially held without bond. Idaliz was also booked at the jail on a felony battery charge, with her bond set at $5,000.