From a Manatee County, Florida Sheriff’s Office report on what happened after Douglas Naeher attacked his wife Stephanie and tossed her over the side of their boat: “In an attempt to save her own life, the victim said she pretended to be dead. She tried to slow her breathing and remain motionless so the Defendant would stop hitting her. Once he stopped hitting her, he dragged her by her hair to the rear of the boat and into the water. The Defendant then placed both hands around the victim’s throat attempting to strangle and drown her in the water. As he was doing this, he said ‘I’m going to fucking kill you!’ The victim stated she was gasping for air and salt water was coming out of her nose. The other vessel started coming closer to their location. The victim believes this is the reason the Defendant let go of her. He left the victim in the water battered and gasping for air.”
“He then put the boat in gear and started to drive. The victim was able to interlock her feet around the ladder at the rear of the vessel and hold on. The Defendant dragged the victim behind the boat for a short time. The victim was fighting to stay above the water. She believes the Defendant tried to leave her and didn’t realize she was hanging on. The Defendant eventually stopped the boat, and the victim climbed back in using the ladder. When the Defendant noticed she was back on the boat, he started to punch and stomp her body several more times. He then dragged her to the back of the boat and shoved ner overboard. The victim saw a rope dangling from the rear of the boat and wrapped it around her right ankle just before the Defendant started to drive away a second time.”
“The victim got dragged behind the boat for several minutes before she was able to pull herself back onto the rear of the boat. While he was driving back inland towards Bean Point, the Defendant noticed the victim was on the rear of the boat. The Defendant let the boat continue driving on its own as he went back to batter her, only stopping when he had to adjust the course of the boat. As they got closer to their residence, the Defendant had to actively stay in control of the boat to navigate through the narrow canal to their dock. As the boat slowed, the victim jumped onto the dock and ran to the Holmes Beach Police Department, just a short distance from their residence.”
“This was at 1337 hrs. Ten minutes later, the Defendant was seen on the Holmes Beach PD surveillance camera fleeing the area in his pickup truck.” Damn, what a fucking Floridian.