A Florida man was arrested after trying to beat his ex-wife’s new boyfriend to death with a baseball bat and burn down the man’s house.
Larry Prevatt, 47, is charged with attempted first degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, arson, armed burglary, violation of an injunction and domestic battery. He’s being held in the Clay County Jail on $230,000 bond.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant for the arrest of Prevatt on Monday, stemming from the April 11 altercation at the Orange Park home of his ex-wife’s new boyfriend.
Deputies say Prevatt walked in to Brian Darnell’s home while his ex-wife was doing laundry in the garage, and proceeded to hit him multiple times with a baseball bat in an attempt to kill him.
Prevatt’s ex-wife tried to stop him from beating her boyfriend, but Prevatt bit her on the arm. She was eventually able to get the bat away from him, though the fight continued, and Prevatt started choking Darnell on the floor of the kitchen.
Prevatt eventually left the house after getting hit over the head with a pot by his ex-wife and went outside the house to grab a gas can. As he was pouring gasoline on the detached garage, Prevatt was shot in the leg by a shotgun Darnell retrieved from his bedroom closet.
Even with the gunshot wound, Prevatt lights a second fire to the garage.
Deputies arrived to find both Prevatt and Darling lying near each other in the front yard because of exhaustion, and Prevatt’s ex-wife is trying to put out the fire to the garage with a garden hose. Prevatt and Darnell were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A CCSO spokeswoman says Darnell is recovering from his injuries.
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