OKEECHOBEE — A Glades County woman was arrested early Tuesday morning in the parking lot of the Okeechobee Health Care Facility, where she was allegedly going to kill her mother and herself.



Arrested June 21 was Jacqueline Lacrone Castleberry, 62, of an Elm Street address in Buckhead Ridge.

She was booked into the Okeechobee County Jail on felony charges of attempted murder and attempt to commit a crime. She was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.

Castleberry’s bond had not yet been set.

A report by Sergeant Belen Reyna, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), indicated both his department and the sheriff’s office had received information shortly after midnight that Castleberry was going to the Okeechobee Health Care Facility on U.S. 441 North.

Sgt. Reyna stated she was going to the facility “... to kill her mother and herself.” Her unidentified mother is staying at the facility and was not harmed.

After checking on the woman’s mother and alerting the facility’s staff about the situation, Sgt. Reyna learned that Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Daniel Eng had seen Castleberry’s vehicle pull out of the Raulerson Hospital parking lot into the health care facility’s parking lot.

After the woman was taken out of her 2015 Chevrolet automobile, she was handcuffed and her car was searched. During that search, stated Sgt. Reyna’s report, a chrome 9mm handgun was found along with $7,427.76 in cash.

When asked by Sgt. Reyna why she had such a large amount of cash, the woman reportedly replied it was in case she wanted to get a hotel.

“I asked her if she was trying to hurt herself or anyone else? She said no,” stated the sergeant’s report.

Castleberry was then taken to the Okeechobee County Jail where a breath test was done by Detention Deputy Corporal Aric Majere. The results on two breath tests were .034 percent each.

“Deputy Majere advised she was definitely under the influence of something other than alcohol to make her impaired,” noted Sgt. Reyna.

Sgt. Reyna went on to state it was fortunate law enforcement had received information about Castleberry’s alleged plans in a timely manner.

“Due to her being apprehended she was not able to follow through with the crime. If we would have received the information a couple of minutes late, (I’m) not sure what would have happened at the facility,” Sgt. Reyna added.

Castleberry’s bond will be set at her first appearance hearing sometime Wednesday morning, June 22.