JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman was charged with murder after a 69-year-old man was beaten to death, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said Jessica Norton, 31, was arrested Friday after the death of Rafael Sur. Family members said he served in the Navy.
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According to the Sheriff's Office, Norton was being evicted from Sur's home on White Horse Road on Sept. 16. An argument between Norton and Sur escalated into a fight.
According to police reports, Norton began shoving Sur. He then armed himself with a Samurai sword in its sheath. That's when police said Norton beat Sur with a laundry basket, then a computer tower. He was knocked to the ground and never got back up according to authorities.
Police reports said Norton called three people, telling them that she was being held against her will, and then tried to alter the scene to make it look that way. When questioned by police, Norton said she "lost it" when Sur picked up the sword. Sur was rushed to the hospital for treatment, but he later died of his injuries.
Norton remains in jail on a $250,000 bond. Her arraignment is set for Nov. 26.
Sur is being remembered fondly by his family and friends.
Stella Turner said the neighborhood isn't the same without Sur, who she lived next door to for 28 years.
“My favorite memory was that his granddaughter and my daughter used to put on plays, and they always used to do it at his house or my house," Turner said.
Sur's family members told News4Jax he was a loving man. They hope to find justice in his death.