Visiting Mayor Acknowledges Domestic Abuse In Miami Beach: Report

MIAMI BEACH, FL — A Lee County, Florida mayor acknowledged on Monday that she had been the victim of domestic abuse while a guest at the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach over the weekend. Mayor Marni Sawicki of Cape Coral told a local newspaper that she was battered by her former husband in her hotel room. Kenneth Duane Retzer was charged with domestic battery by strangulation, according to Miami Beach arrest documents.

Sawicki was one of dozens of mayors from around the United States who attended the 85th United States Conference of Mayors between Friday and Monday. The alleged battery came sometime after 1 a.m. on Saturday in a sixth floor hotel room. Police said the two had been drinking at the hotel nightclub and left around midnight before getting into an argument. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

"I refuse to be ashamed of it," Sawicki told the News-Press on Monday. "I will not let people shame me into not doing my job or (saying) that this is my fault." She added that she plans to push for legislation to help domestic abuse victims.

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Arrest documents released to the press redacted the victim's name, but Sawicki acknowledged that she was the victim in the News-Press interview.

Miami Beach police said that the victim "had noticeable swelling above her left eye and on her chin." The battery occurred when the victim laid down on one of the two beds closest to the door and Retzer attempted to straddle her, according to police, who said that he "placed his hands over her throat," to the point where she had trouble breathing.

Retzer then struck her in the face and head with a closed right fist, the documents said. The victim "proceeded to scratch Retzer on his left cheek and bite his left index finger." The report said that Retzer punched the wall and left the hotel room.

When police arrived, they found Retzer bleeding from the face. They could see blood spots on the sheets and punch marks on the wall above the bed. They also reviewed cell phone video of Retzer's "erratic" behavior but said that the video did not show the actual battery.

Retzer returned to the room about two hours later after calling 9-1-1. Police said that the victim let Retzer back in the room until they arrived and he was taken into custody.

The 48-year-old Retzer of Labelle, Florida listed his occupation as laborer. The victim told police that she had been in an intimate relationship with Retzer since 2013.

The victim told Miami Beach police that Retzer had been abusive to her in the past but that he had never battered her.

Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki courtesy of Cape Coral