Most weird stories coming out of Florida involve either a gator or a hurricane. The stories I’m going to share with you involve neither, unfortunately. However, they are both entertaining in their own right. They are hard to believe but they are both true.
The Swindler Wife
In late 2009, Sherrill Thurston filed for divorce from her husband, Bob Thurston, after 24 years of marriage. The couple owned property in Florida, but did not reside there. In the State of Florida, in order to file for divorce, at least one party must live in the state for a minimum of 6 months. Therefore, Sherrill filing for divorce and never having actually resided in Florida for 6 months was in violation of Florida divorce law.
Her husband, Bob Thurston, who sadly passed away after the 2009 divorce, suffered from severe Alzheimer’s and dementia. Under the law, due to his illness, Sherrill obtained all of Bob’s assets, and her husband acquired all of the couples nearly $250,000.00 in debt. He really got the short end of that stick.
In 2011, the case was looked into by St. John’s County after Bob Thurston’s daughter from a previous marriage told police that the couple never actually resided in Florida. They both lived in North Carolina.
Members of Bob’s immediate family accused Sherrill of knowing exactly what she was doing when she took ownership of everything that Bob. They alleged that she took advantage of his illness.
After a full investigation, it seemed as if Sherrill strategically scammed her late husband. She played the system and robbed him of all of his money. He had absolutely no ability to fight back…heck, he didn’t even know what was going on. He was very ill, a shell of the man he had once been.
It gets worse. Because Bob had no money, he was unable to afford proper medication. Mr. Thurston ended up being placed in a nursing home in Kentucky. He was looked after here up until his passing. Medicaid footed most of the bill for his care.
In 2011, Sherrill was arrested for perjury and extradited from North Carolina back to Florida. She was released on bail and is awaiting trial. This story gives the age old adage “left for dead” a whole new meaning.
She’ll File Online Next Time
Catherine Scott-Gonzalez probably wishes that she had saved her time, her energy, and her face by filing for divorce without lawyers and a courtroom.
In April of 2011, Catherine filed for divorce from her husband of five years, Paul Gonzalez. To say that Paul was upset about the filing is an understatement to say the least. When the issue of child support was brought up in the final hearing of their divorce proceedings, Paul Gonzalez became infuriated. He initially left the room and refused to pay child support for the couple’s two children. He subsequently came back into the court room.
When Gonzalez returned, witnesses say he immediately started to punch his wife in the face repeatedly. Catherine suffered a broken nose and a fractured jaw. To make matters worse, there was no Bailiff present in the courtroom to aid Mrs. Gonzalez in fighting off her attacker. Luckily her lawyer, Michael Dunleavy jumped to her rescue, as she was knocked out from the first blow and was receiving many blows to the head. Mr. Gonzalez was finally restrained when the Judge hit a panic button to alert police in the courthouse.
Paul was eventually charged with felony battery charges, as well as resisting arrest.
So, no alligators or hurricanes, but the stories were just as wild and devastating. Breaking the law and violence are never the answer to anything, no matter the situation. Yes, divorce has an ugly head that it rears from time to time, but everything can be worked out in a civil manner. Remember to keep a level head on your shoulders and to act with dignity and poise.
Finally a person that puts some real work into a blog. I do like what you have done with the blog.
Sherrill didn’t just take every asset Bob owned. After divorcing him – which she kept a secret from his entire family – she put him in her car and drove him 10 hours from NC to KY, again without anyone knowing, and left him on his daughter’s doorstep in KY. Literally rang the doorbell and walked away with a smirk on her face. The law did nothing. The taxpayers paid for his care. His assests stolen from him. She refused to give either of his two daughters a copy of his will. The law still did nothing…. and she still lives on the beach.