A Violent Confrontation at Rebecca Towers: 83-Year-Old Resident Attacks Property Manager
In a disturbing incident that has shocked the Miami Beach community, an 83-year-old resident of Rebecca Towers senior living facility was arrested after violently attacking his property manager in early August. John Gula now faces second-degree attempted murder charges following a confrontation with Amelia Sola Ortiz that stemmed from a failed apartment inspection. The attack, which was captured on surveillance cameras, shows how quickly a routine property management interaction escalated into a life-threatening situation. Police discovered Ortiz unresponsive on the floor, bleeding severely from wounds to her head and chest, while they later found Gula hiding in his girlfriend’s apartment within the same building.
The confrontation began when Ortiz went to the 10th floor to speak with Gula regarding the “state of his apartment” and a recently failed inspection. Surveillance footage captured the initial interaction between Ortiz, Gula, and his girlfriend, Rosinda Arellana, in a hallway of the high-rise. What started as a conversation took a terrifying turn when Gula suddenly dropped the items he was carrying and produced a foldable pocket knife. In a moment of rage, he lunged at Ortiz and allegedly stabbed her. The two then engaged in a desperate struggle during which Ortiz managed to disarm her attacker, throwing the weapon down the hallway. However, by this point, she had already sustained serious injuries and began bleeding profusely from wounds to her chest and head.
The situation became even more dangerous when Gula produced a second collapsible knife and attempted to attack Ortiz again. Fortunately, his girlfriend Arellana intervened, physically restraining him while the injured property manager attempted to escape. Despite Gula’s efforts to hold onto Ortiz, Arellana managed to pull him away, allowing the wounded woman to flee. Witnesses reported hearing Ortiz desperately calling for help as she staggered away from the scene, clutching her chest as blood poured from her wounds. The injured manager found temporary safety inside another apartment in the 13-story building, where she eventually collapsed from her injuries before emergency services arrived.
First responders quickly transported Ortiz to Ryder Trauma Hospital for treatment of her serious injuries. Meanwhile, Gula took the elevator down to the seventh floor and sought refuge in Arellana’s apartment. Law enforcement was able to track his movements through the building’s CCTV system, eventually locating him as he emerged from a bathroom still wearing blood-stained shoes. The police arrested Gula and charged him with one count of attempted murder with a deadly weapon. Since his arrest, Gula has invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and has not provided any statement to investigators regarding the incident. He is currently being held without bail at the Metrowest Detention Center in Doral, Florida, with his next court appearance scheduled for November 20.
Miami Beach Police spokesperson Christopher Bess characterized the incident as “an isolated incident between the property manager, who’s the victim, and a resident, who’s the offender, over a property dispute.” He further explained that the situation “escalated, and unfortunately, the property manager was stabbed.” The case highlights the potential dangers faced by property management professionals who often must handle difficult tenant situations and enforce building regulations. What began as a routine follow-up to an inspection quickly transformed into a violent confrontation that could have easily resulted in a fatality. The incident raises important questions about security protocols in senior living facilities and how management should approach potentially volatile situations with residents.
The violent episode at Rebecca Towers serves as a sobering reminder of how seemingly minor disputes can rapidly escalate, particularly in residential settings where people feel their personal space is being threatened. For elderly residents like Gula, failing an apartment inspection may have represented more than just a routine property management issue—it could have felt like a direct challenge to his independence and dignity. While this in no way justifies his violent response, it underscores the need for specialized training for those working with elderly populations, particularly in situations that might trigger emotional responses. As this case moves through the judicial system, it will likely prompt many senior living facilities to review their safety protocols and conflict resolution procedures to better protect both staff and residents from similar incidents in the future.
