Home Invader Dies After Man Defends Wife With Machete: Deputies

Clearwater, FL — A 31-year-old Clearwater man is dead after suffering machete wounds during a Tuesday morning break-in at a couple’s home on Terrace View Lane.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Heather, 40, and Mark “Steven” Aiosa, 43, woke up around 2:11 a.m. to find a man standing in their bedroom doorway of their unincorporated Clearwater home. The man, identified as Robert Alcalde, 31, had broken a window and forced his way inside while the couple was sleeping.

Alcalde began acting irrationally, trying to “climb the walls of the bedroom,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. As Alcalde continued to act strangely, deputies say Steven armed himself with a .22-caliber rifle and a machete. He and Heather retreated to the back of the home and called 911.

Steven attempted to load the rifle, but it malfunctioned, the email said.

Alcalde followed the couple to the back of the home and proceeded to attack Heather, deputies said.

“In defense of his wife, Steven armed himself with the machete and struck Alcalde in the legs numerous times causing serious injury,” the email noted.

When deputies arrived, they found Alcalde holding the rifle while fighting with Steven, the agency noted. Deputies were able to disarm Alcalde, but he kept fighting. Electronic Control Weapons were used, the agency said, but had no effect.

“Detectives say that Alcalde continued physically resisting deputies despite suffering from significant leg injuries and considerable blood loss,” the email said.

After being brought under control, Alcalde was taken to Northside Hospital where he later died.

The Aiosas did not know Alcalde, the sheriff’s office said.

“Detectives also believe that Alcalde was impaired at the time of the incident,” the email said.

No further information is available at this time.

Image via Shutterstock/Video courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office