Beaten Volusia County Woman Slips Note to Vet Staff, Pleads for Rescue From Boyfriend

VOLUSIA COUNTY• DELAND, FLORIDA– A 28-year-old DeLand woman was treated for injuries Friday night and her live-in boyfriend is in custody after she was beaten Wednesday and threatened at gunpoint, preventing her from leaving their home for two days.

After spending all day Thursday in bed due to a head injury, finally Friday afternoon the woman convinced her boyfriend to let her bring their dog to DeLand Animal Hospital — he insisted on accompanying her, armed with a loaded handgun.

At the veterinary hospital, the woman managed to alert authorities by slipping a note to a vet staff member that said: “Call the cops. My boyfriend is threatening me. He has a gun. Please don’t let him know.”

The staff member called law enforcement after receiving the note. DeLand police responded first, detaining the boyfriend, Jeremy Floyd, 39, and recovering his gun.

Volusia County sheriff’s deputies responded because the domestic violence crimes took place at the couple’s home in the 900 block of South Amelia Avenue, in the county.

Deputies arrested Floyd, a convicted felon, after the visibly injured girlfriend, Carolyn Reichle stated Floyd repeatedly battered her on Wednesday night, threatened her at gunpoint, and physically prevented her from leaving their home.

During the incident, the two struggled over the handgun and it was discharged inside the house. On the drive to the vet, Floyd reportedly again pointed the gun at Reichle, threatening to kill her and her family. Once at the vet, Reichle managed to pass the note to the vet staff.

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Deputies took Reichle to Florida Hospital DeLand where she was treated for her injuries, which included a head injury, a black eye and bruised arms. Deputies then took her to their home where they located two bullet holes in a hallway, which passed through drywall and into another room.

Floyd is charged with domestic violence: aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and simple battery.

He remains in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail with no bail allowed.

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