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Highlands Today

LP Man Charged With Attempted Murder

Jorge Severiano-Morales, 24

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: June 4, 2008

LAKE PLACID — A 20-year-old Lake Placid woman was fortunate she wasn't at home when a Lake Placid man arrived there, reportedly on a mission to "cut her and let her blood run."

Jorge Severiano-Morales, 24, of Lake Placid, was booked Monday on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, burglary of a dwelling, structure or conveyance while armed, criminal mischief less than $200 and cruelty toward a child – an act that could result in physical or mental injury.

Severiano-Morales remained in Highlands County Jail without bond Tuesday.

The suspect went to the woman's house at about 11 a.m. Monday in the 100 block of Sarasota Avenue, in Lake Placid, authorities said. He was reportedly armed with a large kitchen knife.

When he did not find the victim, he went to the home of her friend in the 100 block of Fascination Drive, and told her he was looking for the victim "because he was going to kill her," the report stated.

The friend called the woman and warned her not to go home. She told the victim to come to her home.

At about 12:08 p.m. Severiano-Morales returned to Fascination Drive. The women saw him coming toward the house. He got into the house through an unsecured window, the report stated.

The women, each with a 1-year-old child in hand, ran from the house with Severiano-Morales chasing them. After about 270 feet, he caught up with the victim and grabbed her arm, the report stated.
"I'm going to kill you," he reportedly her. "I'm going to cut you up!" The victim was still holding the infant. The second woman continued to run away with the other child.

The victim fell while trying to break Severiano-Morales' grasp. He lost a flip-flop and fell himself, dropping the knife.

The victim picked up the knife, still holding the baby, and started running again. They ran about 305 feet more to a neighbor's house. The neighbor called the Highlands County Sheriff's Office for help, the report stated.

Sheriff's deputies arrived and were able to locate Severiano-Morales. He reportedly refused to say why he wanted to kill the woman, but told deputies that if they let him out of the sheriff's cruiser, he'd kill the victim right then and there.

He also reportedly threatened to have someone kill the victim's family in Mexico.
The victim told investigators she is not familiar with Severiano-Morales, but said she recognized him from the community.

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