A routine trip to Barnes and Nobles turned into a fight for survival when a grandmother targeted her own daughter-in-law. She didn't just argue. She lunged forward and began to strangle her, pinning her against a shelf while she was still desperately holding her toddler son. >> I'm outside here. >> I got photos. I got video last night. I got reason I got marks on >> what she did last night is she what she did last night is she put my son in jail as a lawyer. >> Raise your right hand for me. You swear to tell the truth to the best of your knowledge. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. What's going on? What happened to you? >> Yes, sir. Um my son called me and he he's a lawyer. >> Okay. >> Went to Benjamin School, University of Florida Law School. >> Okay. >> She got pregnant. >> Okay. >> He married her. >> Okay. >> We have a 4-year-old grand she they have a 4-year-old grandson. Who? This female here. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Who is she to your >> My daughter-in-law and that is my son's wife. >> Okay. >> My son just called me and said, "Can you pick me up?" And he's devastated. >> Um she claimed she put his he put his hands on her. He's bigger than you. >> She claimed he put his hands on her >> last night and and the cops came and arrested him. >> Okay. >> So, what did he tell you to do today? He just he grandma sees him every week, my grandson. >> And I have to get clothes because he has to go to court on Monday. Okay. >> So, I went to the apartment which is under my name. >> Say what? >> The apartment where they live in. I leased it. >> Okay. >> Under my name. >> Okay. >> And I said, "Claire, I just want to know that you're okay. That the little boy is okay." >> Okay. >> My grandson. Let me >> Who asked you to come here today? That's what I'm asking you. Nobody. You came on your own. >> I came on my own. >> What was your reason for coming in here today? >> To see my grandson. >> Okay. >> She does not have a car. >> Okay. >> And I had to let my son get his car. >> Is there a custody battle between your son and and the mother? So the mother has divorce. >> So they have joint custody. >> They're they're married. They live together. >> Okay. So what was your purpose of coming today? Just to see your grandson. >> To see my grandson and to talk to Claire and say, "Claire, let's work this out." >> Okay. And and and how did she react to it? What was her response? >> Not well. >> Okay. So then what did you >> She's been back. So what did you determine to do? >> So what did you decide? >> I put her hands on me and then I put my hand back on her. >> Okay. >> And it was So she put her hands on Hold on. Give me a second. She put her hands on you first. >> Yes. >> And then you put your hands back on her. >> Yes. And then I dropped them. >> You dropped who? >> My hands. >> Okay. What did she do? How did she put her hands on you? Did she Don't Don't demonstrate it on me. >> Oh. Oh. I'm sorry. Do not put your hands on me. do that, sir. >> Just just show an example against the wall or something. >> I'm going to call 911. >> So, she grabbed you by windy. Yeah. And then I went and I said, "No, you're not. We're going to work this out." >> Have you been drinking a little bit? >> Me? >> Yes. >> I don't drink. >> Okay. I have to ask. >> I take medication, so I don't drink. But I want to show you something. >> This is what I want to show you. >> This is my grandson. >> Okay. >> This is my grandson at my house. Every Sunday I have my grandson. Okay, that's fine. My concern is what happened today. I'm not I don't What happened a few days ago is irrelevant >> is that I think we have to let her calm down. I need to drive home. >> I need >> Well, I'll make that determination. I'm just trying to figure out >> who put their hands on who and what was your intent of putting your hand why what was her stop and listen to me. >> Okay, >> she's been bakered a few times for mental illness. >> Okay, >> it happens. >> I've been asking her to get help. If I could show you, if I could show you some of her text messages, it's like she's talking in tongues. >> All right. So, right now, we're not here about the past. We're here about today. You have your license on you? >> Can I see it? >> Yes, you may. >> Now, you saying she put her hands on you first, but if we have witnesses and video saying you put your hands, just listen. If they say you put your hands on her first, then we're going to have to continue investigating further. All right. So, I asked you to give me a sworn statement telling me the truth. What happened? The problem is is that when I put my hands on her is when she yelled. So then people came over. They didn't see her do me first. >> But there's cameras. So cameras would have caught that. Okay. >> So I'mma So I'mma I'mma listen to your statement until proven otherwise. Okay. I saw your license in that stack. You just >> That's my mother's that I keep because it's my mom and I remember her. >> Just work on getting yours. I don't drink. >> That's fine. I asked you that question a few minutes ago. >> I have anxiety and panic disorder. I just wanted to see the little boy. >> That's all I wanted. >> Is the lady prom 38? >> Oh, they grandma. >> That's you. Yes, sir. >> They got They got photos though. >> You got Hey, hold on. You got video? >> Yeah, I got it. I got this. >> All right. Just to make sure. >> I just want to make sure we got something. >> I have the name of the >> Please don't arrest me. >> I'm claustrophobic and I can't. I just want to go home. >> Ma'am, give me a second. I'll be with you. Okay. I haven't made any determination or anything. >> I promise you I'll never go near there. >> They called the police and they're here. Honey, >> I can't go to jail. I'm claustrophobic. You know that. I've never I think Claire did no. I don't want to hurt anybody. I want to go home. I just want to go home, Hunter. And you and Claire work it out. There's nothing I can do. >> She called the police again and Tucker looks scared. >> You got his 14. >> I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, I mean, I guess. All right. >> What's up, buddy? >> Hello. >> What did you see? >> All right. So, I started Sorry. Raise your right hand. You swear to tell the truth to the best of your knowledge. >> I swear. >> Okay. What happened today? >> I was standing just at a disturbance. I was standing at the um at the cash register where I was helping a customer. I started to hear some screaming. >> Um so naturally, of course, I excuse myself and run over to the children's department where I see the older woman on the bench there um pinning the woman and the the younger woman and the child up against the shelf. >> Yeah. the the child was being held by the mother and she was shoving um trying to grab the child and pushing the mother up against >> Was it by her throat, by her chest area? >> She said the arms. Um >> was she using both hands? >> Yes, >> this lady, >> as far as I could remember, yes. >> Did Did the lady ask to stop or try to get away from her? >> Uh she just seemed frozen in fear, I would say. Um very tense. >> Mhm. Um, they both looked at me when I got there and they just, you know, I kind of got lost with what they were saying. But from what I can remember, I remember she specifically claimed that the mother was mentally unfit to be a parent, >> that she had been Baker acted, um, >> and that, um, she was worried about the child. Um later in the conversation after the mother uh got away from the what I assume to be mother-in-law um the older woman claimed that the that last night or sometime recently the mother called the police saying that the husband her son uh had hit her and that the police detained him. >> Yeah. I guess she he went to jail. I don't I don't know about it. you know. Um, >> but today I'm not wor about what you know what she said. I just want to see what you saw today. So, you saw her grabbing her by the uh shoulder area, restraining her, not allowing her to go. >> Correct. >> And the child was in is was in the mother's hands. >> The mother's hands. Yes. And you know, my manager eventually got there and we got them to >> So, you separated it? >> Yeah. Me and the other manager, the other gentleman helped relieve the situation. And then we kind of formed like a wall around her and that's when the the mother kind of went away and that's where that's where someone else found her. >> Got at any point did you see hands go up to the neck? >> Not to the neck. Not that I saw. >> I was thinking about aggravated. >> Well, she's No, no, she's got she got marks around her neck. She said she had trouble breathing. >> If we got camera then this footage is there. I'm going to go see if they got camera. We got one more witness interview real quick. What are you doing? >> Oh, hello. >> Being stolen. Hello. >> Hello. You mind telling me what you saw? >> Uh, so I walked >> just raise your right hand first. >> Oh, yeah. >> You tell the truth to the best of your knowledge. >> Yes. Swear. >> Mhm. >> Okay. What happened to me? >> So was right in that aisle there. Um I walked up and I saw it from up there cuz I was in the cafe. So >> Oh, so you were in the cafe. >> So yeah, I was up there like where he's standing where Lance is standing. Um and I I heard you know like screaming. So I kind of walked over here and then I looked and there was a lady that was like I couldn't tell if she was like because she was you know not strangling but like >> what lady was it? The the older lady outside. >> Yeah. the one that >> and then um I couldn't tell if she was hurting the child or the you know the other lady. >> Um >> so you couldn't so you didn't see her grab the lady? >> I didn't see her actually grab the lady. I just saw her >> pushing both of them up against the toys. >> So you saw her push both of them against the toys? >> Yeah, cuz the lady was, you know, holding the child, you know, the child was in front of her. Um, and I did hear her say the other lady that was doing the pushing saying um, she uh, uh, she said she kidnapped my child. She's been baker acted. That's all I really heard. >> Okay. So, you heard the older lady say the mom kidnapped her child and she's been baker acted before. And then once all that was going on, I called the manager and then he came up and then Tim, the other gentle, the other worker you just talked to, >> um, he came about the same time >> and then the, uh, manager came up and then I walked away. >> Okay. >> You know, let them do their thing. >> No worries. >> And then the next thing I know, you guys are here. [laughter] >> We got We got regular battery though. Simple battery at that point. >> Yeah. That's if she wants a frost. Yeah. >> Correct. Yeah. So, >> and we might have uh aggravated battery. >> Um, as far as Yeah, I mean, yeah, strangulation. Yeah, if she wants to prosper that. Yeah, cuz she said she had she had a difficult time breathing. >> All right, let me let me just >> Is that your car? 17 something. >> Mine? >> Yeah. >> Mine? Oh, 17. >> 17. >> Yeah, yours. >> All right. Can you please move cuz I guess you boxing somebody in? >> All right. Let me give me one second. Let me see if they live together. Ma'am, got a question. The apartment you say you bought for your boyfriend? >> I No. No. It's my son. >> I mean your son. >> I lease it. >> You lease it. Does she live with you? Live in that house? >> Yes. >> With you? >> No, sir. >> Just him and her? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> We don't got domestic battery or anything. We just got aggravated. She's over here. >> I told her to just stay. She's got a kid with her. So, >> does she need to see rescue while they're here? I mean, it wouldn't hurt to ask um because they're already here. >> Yeah. >> Oh, right here in the white shirt. Oh, okay. >> She was over there. >> Oh, okay. >> Hello. >> I'll let you I'll let you make your order. >> No worries. >> From the incident from today. I don't know what happened yesterday. Today's incident going to be documented under this case number. >> Mhm. >> All right. So, um we spoke to several witnesses. Um, we got her statement. Obviously, >> now you want to press charges. >> Well, the more I talked about it with them in detail. >> I'm sorry. It's just I don't mean to sound rude, but it's a yes or no at this point. >> Yes, I'd like to press charges. >> Okay. Now that you want to press charges after she gets checked out, I'm go to the hospital. >> Oh, she say I >> No, she had a panic attack or allegedly whatever the case may be. Probably a reason to leave for today. But we're going to go over there and um >> Well, then you should move forward with a a baker wreck. That's what I do for a living. I mean, a baker wreck. >> Well, I'm evaluate her. But if she doesn't meet criteria, [clears throat] you know, can't tell no don't get this wrong way. Don't tell us to do our job. >> No. >> We'll evaluate her. If she meets criteria, then she'll be bankacted as well. >> As of right now, your concern is her grabbing you on your neck while you have your son in your hands. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Case number. >> Okay. Thank you. Medics arriving on the scene confirmed the severity of the attack, noting distinct red marks around the woman's neck that were consistent with being strangled. When questioned by police, the grandmother didn't deny her actions, reportedly admitting she attacked her daughter-in-law because she was simply very angry. for choosing a violent confrontation in a public toy aisle.