A 93-year-old Ocala man has been released from jail and given permission to stay with family in New York, less than two weeks after he was arrested on attempted murder charges for allegedly trying to suffocate and strangle his wife of 60 years.

During a hearing on Monday, November 4, a Marion County Judge denied the State of Florida’s motion for a pre-trial detention in the case of Helmut Viktor Stefan Lockner. The defendant, Lockner, was subsequently released from Marion County Jail, where he had been detained since his arrest on Saturday, October 26, after posting a $5,000 bond that was issued by the judge.

In addition, the judge excused Lockner from court appearances in Marion County, though he must appear at his trial once a date has been set. He is also allowed to have contact with his wife, who is the victim in this case, “as long as a family member is present.”

While Lockner awaits trial, the court has also granted him permission to reside with family members in New York.

The charges against Lockner stem from a call for service that the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received on Saturday, October 26. On that date, an MCSO corporal responded to a local residence in reference to a domestic battery incident involving Lockner and his wife.

Upon arrival at the home, the corporal made contact with the victim who was “visibly upset and crying,” according to the arrest report.

The corporal noted in the report that the victim’s husband, Lockner, was talking on the phone inside the residence, near the dining room table. On top of the table, the corporal observed a “strand of rope” that was “rolled up.”

The victim advised that her husband, Lockner, had told her multiple times that he “wanted to die,” which was “normal for (him) to say.” At the time of the incident, she advised that they were sitting in separate chairs in the living room while watching television.

According to the victim’s statement, Lockner stood up at one point, walked behind her chair, and then “started choking her” with a rope. She stated that Lockner was “pulling forcefully on the rope to the point she felt like her blood circulation was being cut off.”

The report stated that the victim was eventually able to free herself from the rope. She then ran into another room and contacted law enforcement.

While speaking with the corporal, the victim also described a second incident that had occurred approximately two weeks earlier, shortly after Lockner began stating that he was “in pain” and “wanted to die.”

While the victim and Lockner were lying in bed at the incident location, between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m., Lockner allegedly picked up one of their pillows on the bed and “forcefully pushed (it) down onto the victim’s face.”

While “trying to suffocate (the victim),” Lockner allegedly told her that he “did not want to leave her alone.” The victim stated that it was hard to breathe when the pillow was on her face, though she was eventually able to “get (Lockner) to stop,” according to the report.

The corporal indicated in the report that the victim had multiple injuries on her neck and arms, including red and purple bruising on the right side of her neck, an abrasion along her chin that was “consistent with ligature strangulation,” a red mark going from her neck to behind her ear, and a laceration on her left forearm that was “actively bleeding.”

After being read his Miranda rights, Lockner told the corporal that he is dying, and he further stated that he does not want to leave his wife alone.

During the post-Miranda interview, Lockner allegedly admitted that he tried to “strangle” his wife with the rope, adding that he was “trying to kill her.” When asked about the incident two weeks earlier, he allegedly admitted to attempting to smother the victim with a pillow.

Lockner has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Two days after being arrested, Lockner entered a written plea of not guilty.

Marion County Court records show that Lockner is being represented by Attorney Andy Joshua Ingram, and an arraignment hearing is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26.