A Florida man, Ruben Altidore, 36, was charged on Monday, August 6th, 2026, 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 took place in Margate, Florida, approximately 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 amputations of her left index finger and thumb, and a cut to her left palm with a near amputation of her left thumb, investigators said.

After the attack, the victim’s 1-year-old daughter was found lying in the bed covered in blood but was not injured, officials stated.

The victim ran to the middle of the street and then to a neighbor's front door asking for help. Witnesses expressed shock, with one saying, "Apparently she was sleeping when this all happened. I was just baffled by it. How can you do that?"

Altidore is being held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

Separately, 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.

Sources