Alexander “Nico” Fanjul, the son of sugar baron Alexander Fanjul, found himself in handcuffs on Monday night in Palm Beach, Fla. The charges? Domestic violence, including allegations of strangulation and robbery. As the scion of the powerful Fanjul family, which owns Florida Crystals and Fanjul Corp, a sugar and real estate conglomerate in the US and the Dominican Republic, this shocking incident has thrust him into the spotlight.
According to the police report obtained by Page Six, the harrowing chain of events unfolded when a concerned neighbor called 911 after hearing a woman’s screams. When the police arrived at Fanjul’s home at 11 p.m., they witnessed a distressing scene: Fanjul towering over a woman who was cowering in a defensive fetal position. The woman’s face was bleeding, indicating the gravity of the assault that had taken place.
The unidentified woman revealed to the police that the night began innocently with a dinner at the upscale Flagler Steakhouse, located at the luxurious Breakers Hotel. However, the couple’s evening took a dark turn when Fanjul became irate because they were seated near a homosexual couple. From that moment on, his frustration with the restaurant seemed to escalate.
The Flagler restaurant denies any knowledge of the incident as described. Nevertheless, outside Fanjul’s home, the situation escalated further. The woman told Fanjul to drop the subject, which ignited his rage. He unleashed a series of punches with a closed fist, causing severe bruising, bleeding, and facial swelling.
It didn’t end there. The woman alleges that Fanjul continually kneed her in the face. This wealthy scion, whose family empire is valued at billions, apparently resorted to physical violence, leaving the woman in a profoundly vulnerable state.
Fanjul’s rage seemed to know no bounds. According to the police report, when the woman threatened to call for help, Fanjul ripped her purse from her shoulder and proceeded to crush her hand and phone. He, quite literally, shattered her means of communication and escape.
In an act of horrifying control, Fanjul forcibly dragged the woman into his residence, preventing her from seeking help or making her escape. Once inside, the situation took an even more sinister turn. She alleges that Fanjul strangled her, leaving redness and bruising on her neck, while trails of blood marked the path where he allegedly dragged her.
The police swiftly determined that Fanjul was the primary aggressor, resulting in his arrest for multiple charges, including Felony Domestic Battery for Strangulation, False Imprisonment, Robbery, Tampering with or Harassing Victim, Criminal Mischief, and possession of cocaine. His arrest made headlines and shocked those familiar with the Fanjul family’s power and influence.
Released on $180,000 bail, Fanjul maintains his innocence, according to his attorney. However, this is not the first time his name has been connected to allegations of domestic violence. When he dated socialite Tinsley Mortimer, who later joined “The Real Housewives of New York City,” similar accusations arose, although Fanjul’s family vehemently denied them.
Tinsley Mortimer’s painful experience sheds light on the complexity of domestic abuse. In 2013, Mortimer was hospitalized for a head injury, and subsequent police reports revealed further altercations between the couple. Allegedly, Fanjul smothered Mortimer with a pillow and even pushed her head to the pavement. While Mortimer did not press charges when police were called to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on her birthday in 2014, it is clear that their relationship had a dark undercurrent.
Reflecting on her tumultuous two-year relationship, Mortimer expressed gratitude for the arrest, recognizing it as the turning point that enabled her to break free from the cycle of abuse. She also acknowledged that escaping such a situation is far from easy, stating, “Once you’re caught up in that sort of cycle, it’s really hard to break out of it.”
In Conclusion
The arrest of Alexander “Nico” Fanjul for domestic violence has exposed a deeply disturbing incident that raises questions about the dynamics of power, wealth, and abuse. As this case progresses, it serves as a stark reminder that no one is immune to the horrors of domestic violence and that we must continue to support survivors and advocate for their safety.
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