shared his survival story with us<\/a> two years ago, in March 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAndy Polo: “I hate that day. I’m sorry.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said Yvonne threw scalding tea on him while he was napping, naked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo, March 2021: “I woke up to her throwing boiling hot water on me from across the bed. She used some obscenities and said ‘Who the F is this for?’ and she had a Victoria’s Secret gift card and a receipt in her hand.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He suffered second- and third-degree burns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo, March 2021: “The next thing I know, the whole panel of my back, all my skin came off and fell on the ground, and then I ran for my life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy spent a month in Jackson’s Ryder Trauma Burn Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yvonne was charged with felony battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The police report said Yvonne confronted Andy about what she called his “infidelity” and talked of “intentionally throwing the hot tea on the victim, in self-defense.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when questioned further, she admitted he had never harmed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detectives wrote, “The investigation revealed\u2026” the burn was done “\u2026intentionally not accidentally\u2026” and it appeared “\u2026she had intentionally targeted his genitals.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karen Hensel, March 2021: “Why did you want to talk with us?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo: “Because it brings awareness that this can happen to anybody and everybody.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo says the scars on his body are his prison, and he has been adamant Yvonne Vega get her prison time, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo, court hearing October 2022: “She’s had 892 days of freedom. I’ve had 892 days of hell.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Andy’s emotional plea to the judge, prosecutors withdrew a plea offer that would have required Yvonne pay restitution but not serve prison time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo, court hearing October 2022: “Put her in prison. That’s what I’m asking you. That’s where she needs to go. Her freedom needs to be taken just like mine has. Keep the money. I don’t need it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back in court, last week, it was finally decision day for Yvonne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The choice: take a revamped plea offer of two and a half years in prison plus 10 years probation or <\/em>face up to 15 years if convicted by a jury.<\/p>\n\n\n\nShe wavered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yvonne Vega: “I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this. I’d rather go to trial.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ellen Venzer: “You do?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vega: “Yes, this is not fair.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judge venzer: “Have you had an opportunity to review these pictures with your client?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But after again looking at pictures of Andy’s injuries\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judge Venzer: “What do you wish to do, ma’am?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vega: “I’m gonna take the plea.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last Friday, Yvonne turned herself in, and Andy got his final say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo: “If she would have came to that trauma unit that night and looked at me, and goes, ‘You know what? I messed up,’ she would have never went to prison. Never, never. I would have never thought that way in my life. That woman was my life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yvonne was led away to begin serving her prison sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karen: “Do you feel like you got justice?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo: “No, not really.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karen: “What would have brought you justice?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andy Polo: “Never happening \u2026 that day never happened.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karen Hensel, 7News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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