A Leesburg woman was arrested for burglary after allegedly breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s residence and destroying the interior.
On the evening of Dec. 6, 2024, deputies responded to a battery complaint at an undisclosed Lake County residence, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
Upon arrival, the deputies spoke with the male victim who stated his ex-girlfriend of eight months, 43-year-old Turkessa Taswana Luther, had shown up to his residence and started banging on doors and windows. She removed a Ring doorbell camera that was attached to the wall by the front door and possibly took it with her, the affidavit said.
The victim advised that he and Luther had recently broken up, and she did not have permission to come inside the residence. The double door on the east side of the residence was damaged when she forced herself inside. She then began destroying the residence, taking down curtains and rods from the walls and pictures, the affidavit said.
Luther struck the victim with one of the rods and scratched him multiple times, causing his skin to tear. He refused medical attention for these injuries, the affidavit said.
The victim further advised that at no point in time had Luther ever lived with him. The approximate amount of damage would be around $300, but he did not wish to prosecute or provide a sworn affidavit, the affidavit said.
At the time of the incident, a witness stated Luther came into the residence with another female and child. She began destroying the residence along with battering the victim, the affidavit said.
The deputies tried to make contact with Luther at her last known location of 216 Patrice Hope St., but they were unsuccessful, the affidavit said.
A detective with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office later received a call from the victim who stated he had changed his mind and wanted to prosecute. While speaking over the phone, the detective confirmed Luther had never lived with the victim and did not have permission to come inside the residence under any circumstances, the affidavit said.
On Dec. 10, 2024, the victim came to the LCSO to give his statement and sign his intent to prosecute. While doing so, he changed the value of the damaged items from $300 to $1,500. The uncertainty led to the charge of criminal mischief not being added at the time of the affidavit.
Luther was ultimately arrested Thursday morning by the Leesburg Police Department on a warrant charging her for burglary with assault or battery. She was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $15,000 bond.