A glamorous Palm Beach stable owner is said to have had her nose chopped off with a machete by a drunken horse groomer.
Aimee Waters, 74, of Wellington, and girlfriend Joe Hawk were found by police with serious injuries Tuesday around 8 p.m. after she called the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and told them her nose had been cut off, police said. CBS 12.
Her alleged attacker was her employee, Abundio Jasso, 56, whom she hired about a month ago to care for horses.
Jasso lived on her property in an RV and she told officers their relationship was strained because of his frequent drunkenness, according to CBS 12.
On Tuesday, the stable owner noticed that Jasso had not completed his nightly inspection of the stable and approached him along with her tenant Joseph Hawk.
Aimee Waters of Wellington (pictured) and girlfriend Joe Hawk were found by police with serious injuries Tuesday around 8 p.m. after she called the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and told them her nose had been cut off
Her alleged attacker was her employee, Abundio Jasso, 56, whom she hired about a month ago to care for horses
When the 56-year-old opened the RV door, he reportedly shone a flashlight in their eyes and appeared to be under the influence.
Waters and Hawk then went to complete the night check on their own, but Jasso would storm into the stables moments later with a machete, the local outlet reported.
Jasso attacked Hawk first when he intervened to protect Waters, but after an initial attack, the groomer was able to gain access to Waters, allegedly cutting off her nose and dropping her to the ground.
Hawk intervened again and was hit multiple times, suffering deep cuts to his arms and ribcage, according to CBS 12.
The pair eventually managed to escape to a locked room in the shed, where Waters called 911.
By the time police arrived, Jasso had barricaded himself in his RV and admitted to police that he attacked his boss because she insulted him, according to CBS 12.
Both Waters and Hawk were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries.
The stable owner suffered serious injuries to her nose, as well as a broken upper jaw and facial trauma.
Jasso is said to have first attacked Hawk (pictured) when he intervened to protect Waters, but after an initial attack the groomer was able to gain access to Waters, cut off her nose and drop her to the ground.
The pair eventually managed to escape to a locked room in the shed, where Waters called 911. Jasso has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. He is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond
Hawk suffered a metacarpal fracture to his wrist, lacerations to his triceps and ribcage, and received 17 stitches to his arm due to a deep laceration.
Neighbors credit Hawk with saving Waters’ life.
“Her boyfriend Joe, who was there, she says basically saved her life,” Randy Halvorsrød told CBS 12. “She’s doing well. She barks orders around the farm, so she’s doing well.
“It’s just devastating to us that someone in our community had to go through this, the man who did it. I don’t know what to say.’
Jasso has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. He is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.