A Florida man, Ruben Altidore, 36, was charged with attempted felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and violation of probation after allegedly attacking his sister with a machete while she was sleeping in bed next to her 1-year-old daughter. The incident occurred on Monday, August 3rd, 2026, in Margate, a city about 40 miles north of Miami, according to an arrest report cited by WPLG.

During the attack, Altidore reportedly shouted, "Oh my God, why aren’t you dead yet?" as he repeatedly hacked at his sister in her bedroom. The victim sustained severe injuries, including a 10-inch wound reaching the bone on the back of her right thigh, a four-inch laceration on the back of her right hand with possible amputation of at least four fingers, near amputation of her left index finger and thumb, and a cut to her left palm with a near amputation of her left thumb, investigators said.

Despite the violent assault, the victim’s 1-year-old daughter, who was lying beside her in bed, was found covered in blood but was not injured.

After the attack, the victim ran to the middle of the street and then to a neighbor’s front door asking for help. A machete sheath was found in the kitchen, and the machete itself was discovered under a bed with what appeared to be red smudges. Altidore was taken to the Broward County Main Jail and is being held without bond. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

In a related note, New York City crime policies are under scrutiny following the death of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes, who was killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx. His mother, Migdalia Martinez, and sister, Angelica Coriano, appeared on "Fox & Friends" demanding justice and criticizing the suspect's lengthy arrest record.

Notable Quotes

  • "She ran to the middle of the street and then ran to my front door where she was asking for help," a witness said.
  • "Apparently she was sleeping when this all happened. I was just baffled by it. How can you do that?" a neighbor remarked.

Sources