Court documents reveal that a Florida fishing boat captain made a call for medical assistance after an incident between a father and son onboard. The altercation, which reportedly involved an alternator and a hammer, left the father beaten to death in his bunk and the son arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The Coast Guard responded to the call from the F/V No Bitchin' with a helicopter aircrew. A rescue swimmer confirmed the death of a crew member, identified as Robert Hickok, on Monday, March 18.

Casey Lowell Hickok, 32, of Copeland, Fla., was arrested. The captain of the boat reported that Casey Hickok was repairing the boat's second alternator, when he carried it to the area where his father was sleeping and struck him twice in the head with it. He then reportedly threw the alternator into the water.

Because the incident occurred almost 70 miles of Marco Island, the case falls under federal jurisdiction and would be handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Hickok faces up to life in federal prison if convicted.

The younger Hickok reported that his father had sexually abused him as a child and had "started messing" with him just before the incident occurred.

Casey Hickok has a long history of arrests and charges in Florida's Collier County for kidnapping, assault and possession of controlled substances; and has served two prison terms. He had been released from jail in early March.

The Coast Guard escorted the boat back to Fort Myers' Coast Guard station. On Tuesday, a judge ordered that Hickok be detained pending trial.