A Deerfield Beach couple had argued about money before a middle-of-the-night stun-gun attack led to an attempted murder charge against the husband, an investigator said.
“The couple had fought over finances before the alleged assault,” said Broward Sheriff’s Sgt. Aimee Russo.
The agency was called to the 5200 block of West Lakes Drive at 2:44 a.m. Saturday in response to a disturbance.
John Talbot, 65, had knelt next to Nadette, 62, his wife of 28 years, while she slept, deputies said.
He used a stun gun on her multiple times in an attempt to incapacitate her and pressed a white plastic bag against her face to try and suffocate her, according to Deputy Louis J. Bonhomme’s report.
“She told investigators that ‘”he looked weird, as if he was not himself,'” Russo said.
The weapon is called a drive stun Taser, meaning it didn’t have prongs attached to wires, like those used by police, said Russo, who works in the special victims unit.
Nadette Talbot said she was able to stop the attack by “‘Fighting like a b—–!'” Bonhomme wrote.
She was never unconscious and was not injured, according to Russo.
On Monday, Talbot appeared in Broward County court for the charge of attempted premeditated murder. When arrested Saturday night, Talbot had been charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm.
Russo said the second charge, attempted murder, was added after investigators had a chance to talk further with Nadette Russo.
“We were still looking at more evidence that included her supplemental statement,” Russo said. “She was just better able to explain what happened in terms of the plastic bag and Taser.”
Assistant Public Defender Brian Reidy said Monday that he could not comment on behalf of John Talbot because they had not yet met. Reidy could not be reached Tuesday.
Talbot does not have a criminal record in Florida, according to state records.
[email protected], 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta
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