Holmes Beach man tried to kill woman during Gulf fishing trip, deputies say
Deputies say a Holmes Beach man attacked a woman and tried to leave her for dead during a fishing trip more than 30 miles offshore of Anna Maria Island.
Douglas Scott Naeher, 60, faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder and a charge of domestic battery, according to court records. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says he beat and choked a 49-year-old woman on a boat, leaving her battered and fighting for her life before she escaped and ran to police for help.
Adam Dunn, Naeher’s attorney, told the Bradenton Herald in a statement that his client “is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law” and said “the presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of our justice system and should be upheld throughout the proceedings.”
Dunn said Naeher “looks forward to addressing these allegations in court, where the proper forum for truth and accountability resides.” He added that the defense does not anticipate making additional public statements and asked that the privacy of Naeher and his family be respected during the proceedings.
The arrest report says the Naeher and the woman left Holmes Beach around 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, and set out alone in a 30-foot boat for a fishing trip off Anna Maria Island. Investigators wrote that the woman described Naeher growing agitated during the trip and becoming increasingly aggressive after his fishing line snapped about 33 miles west of Bean Point.
She told detectives she got into the water to avoid a confrontation, floating on a pool noodle while holding onto a rope tied to the boat. The report says Naeher then untied the rope and drove off, leaving her alone in open water.
Violent attack on the Gulf, deputies say
Detectives said the woman reported that Naeher circled back only after another vessel appeared in the area. The report says she told investigators that as the other boat approached, Naeher tried to drive off again before ultimately letting her back on board.
Once she climbed aboard, she said Naeher punched her in the head, stomped on her until she lost consciousness and choked her , according to the arrest report.
The woman told detectives Naeher placed both hands around her throat and said, “I’m going to f---ing kill you,” as she gasped for air. She said she pretended to be dead at one point to make the assault stop, the report says.
Deputies said the violence escalated when Naeher dragged her by the hair and shoved her into the water in an apparent attempt to drown her. According to the report, she grabbed a ladder as Naeher dragged her a short distance with the boat before stopping.
Investigators said the attack continued after she climbed back aboard. Naeher stomped on her several more times, then threw her overboard again, according to an arrest report. The woman told deputies she wrapped a rope around her ankle before he started driving away, dragging her for several minutes until she was able to pull herself back onto the vessel.
Detectives wrote that Naeher let the boat continue moving on its own as he went back to batter her, only pausing to adjust its course. Deputies said the woman reported that Naeher kept hitting her as he steered back toward Holmes Beach. According to the report, she jumped onto the dock out of fear for her safety when they reached a residential canal and ran to the nearby police department for help.
Officers said surveillance cameras showed Naeher fleeing the area in his pickup truck about 10 minutes later. The woman was taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital, where she was treated for a concussion, bruising and swelling to her head and face, and additional bruises to her arms and neck. Her right eye was also swollen shut, according to the sheriff’s office.
Holmes Beach charged with attempted murder
Detectives with the sheriff’s office wrote in the report that they obtained warrants to search Naeher’s home and boat and issued an arrest warrant based on the victim’s statements. Holmes Beach police said his vehicle was later detected by a license plate reader around 2 p.m. on July 21, and officers notified the sheriff’s office. According to an arrest report, law enforcement from both agencies went to his Holmes Beach home, where Naeher came outside and surrendered.
Court records show Naeher was previously charged in a 2020 domestic battery case. Prosecutors later dropped the charge, records say.
According to court records, Naeher remains in the Manatee County Jail without bond after a judge denied his request for pretrial release at a hearing Friday. Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio is scheduled to preside over Naeher’s arraignment on Sept. 5 at the Manatee County Judicial Center.
