Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Anna Maria Freeney, 28, was arrested yesterday after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend.
At approximately 3:25 p.m. on June 2, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to an apartment in Holly Heights, where they discovered Freeney a few blocks from the location. Upon questioning her about the stabbing incident, Freeney allegedly stated that she had awoken to find herself being choked by the victim. After he stopped, she went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and confronted him.
Following a Miranda warning, Freeney reportedly confessed that she and the victim had been in a romantic relationship for six months. She asserted that she does not allow anyone to physically assault her and thus took a knife from the kitchen. She recounted that after the choking incident, the victim went to his bedroom, and she followed him, partially opening the door. At that moment, she claimed to be in a state of confusion, wildly swinging the knife without knowing where it would land. The deputy observed dried blood on her right hand.
An additional deputy indicated that the victim’s account was somewhat different. He stated that after returning home, he requested Freeney to leave, which led to her slapping his face. In reaction, he admitted to placing his hands around her neck, momentarily strangling her, then releasing her and going to his bedroom. However, he heard her retrieving a knife from the kitchen. He attempted to shut and lock his door, but Freeney managed to wedge the knife through the gap before the door was closed. The victim claimed that she slashed at him, injuring his wrist and collarbone. He retreated to the bathroom, collapsing in the bathtub, while Freeney tried and failed to take his wallet, leaving the knife on the counter before exiting the apartment.
The deputy reported that a bloody knife was found on the bathroom counter.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced small baggies of a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.
Freeney has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance. She has eight felony convictions (two violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); she has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2020, and she is on probation for possession of a controlled substance. She is also facing a sworn complaint for stealing a mobility scooter from an acquaintance. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $100,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
