Alleged Attempted Drowning Occurred During Boca Bash. Attempted Murder Charge Reduced To Strangulation, Battery.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATED February 26, 2023 at 11 a.m. to clarify that Felony Attempted Murder was reduced to “battery by strangulation” and “battery” charges.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — It has been nearly a year since Boca Raton resident Cole Goldberg was arrested and charged with attempted homicide. The 23-year-old is accused of trying to drown his girlfriend during “Boca Bash” on Lake Boca. It happened on April 24th, 2022. Goldberg was allegedly in an altercation with his girlfriend. They ended up in the water during mega-event. He is accused of pushing her under the water and attempting to drown her. While the original attempted homicide charge was later not filed by prosecutors, a charge of “battery by strangulation” and a second charge of “battery” remain.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Officers documented witness statements this way: “The boyfriend (Cole Goldberg) was grabbing (the victim) very aggressively keeping her onboard. This went on for about 20 minutes. He became more aggressive and she began punching his arms to get him to let go. Eventually, she jumped off the boat and swam to the boat in front of us. He jumped in after her. Caught up to her and it appeared that he was pushing her under the water.” The victim had bruises on her arm photographs were taken on scene.”
As FWC officers investigated, they came to the following conclusion, according to the official police report: “Based on my investigation, (the victim) and Goldberg have been dating for about a year. Goldberg and (the victim) were having an argument, (the victim) attempted to leave, Goldberg was holding her, preventing her from getting away. (The victim) began to punch Goldberg and was able to free herself. (The victim) jumped into the water, to which Goldberg jumped in after her. Goldberg then grabbed her by the throat and began to hold (the victim) under the water until Witnesses pulled her from him. Witnesses then used a stick to keep Goldberg away from (the victim).
Goldberg was arrested and charged with attempted felony murder and homicide. The case continues to work its way through the court system. As of early February 25th, 2023, no trial date had yet been set. Goldberg remains free on $60,000 bond.
