Current:Home > NewsA teen killed his father in 2023. Now, he is charged with his mom's murder. -Legacy Profit Partners
A teen killed his father in 2023. Now, he is charged with his mom's murder.
View
Date:2025-04-16 13:57:05
In what officials called a "cold-blooded murder," a Florida teen was charged with murder in his mother's fatal stabbing less than two years after he was arrested, but never charged, for fatally shooting his father in Oklahoma.
Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a 911 call about 6 p.m. Sunday at a mobile home in The Hamptons, a senior community in Auburndale, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said during a Wednesday press conference.
The city is in central Florida about halfway between Orlando and Tampa.
The teen told 911 dispatchers his mother "fell on a knife," after they got into a fight, Judd told reporters.
The caller claimed his mother, Catherine Griffith, 39, lunged at him with a knife and fell on it, suffering a stab wound to her neck, Judd said.
5 shot in southeast Virginia:2 dead, 3 injured in Suffolk shooting near bus service station
Teen charged with killing mom immediately asks to speak with a lawyer
When deputies arrived and met the teen outside the mobile home, he immediately asked to speak with a lawyer, Judd said, saying he knew his legal rights.
"It's a cold-blooded murder," Judd said.
Inside the home, deputies found Griffith had been stabbed in the neck with a 12-inch kitchen knife. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The mobile home belongs to the teen's grandmother, who authorities said was at a secondary home in the Keys at the time of the killing.
A preliminary investigation found the home's interior was neat and clean, with no evidence of a physical fight.
During Griffin's autopsy on Monday, the medical examiner determined she died from a deep knife wound to the neck inconsistent with an accidental injury.
"The medical examiner said it is not reasonable or plausible that she died the way that [the teen] said she did," Judd said.
'Let me go!'
Witnesses told police they watched the pair argue outside the home earlier in the day before the boy grabbed his mother by the hair and dragged her inside.
"Let me go!" Judd said Griffith pleaded at the time.
During an interview with police, the grandmother told detectives about past instances in which the teen physically or verbally threatened his mother, Judd said, including multiple threats to kill her.
Last September, the teen was hospitalized in nearby Charlotte County where he lives, under the state's Baker Act, which allows anyone deemed to be a threat to themselves or others to be detained for 72 hours for psychiatric evaluation.
Upon his release, Judd reported, the teen said, "I'll kill myself or I'll kill my mother by shooting or stabbing her." The teen was readmitted under the Baker Act and held for an additional three days.
Three months later, the teen was arrested for domestic violence against his mother after, Judd said, his mother disciplined him by taking away his video game privileges, and he pushed her to the ground and stomped on her.
Then in February, the teen had an argument with his mother and fled from Charlotte County to his grandmother's home in Auburndale. Polk deputies got involved as the grandmother said the family didn't feel safe, and because the teen was reported as a missing person, turned the boy over to the state's Department of Children and Families.
'My son is not a monster':Mother of Georgia shooting suspect apologizes in letter
Teen charged with murder in mother's death was arrested in Oklahoma for killing dad
In February 2023, police in Oklahoma arrested the teen in connection to his father's killing after he claimed his dad pulled a knife on him so he shot him in the head and chest.
He was charged with first-degree murder, but the charge was dropped shortly after because authorities said they could not disprove the teen's self-defense assertion.
Sheriff's office has asked district attorney to prosecute teen as adult
The teen remained in custody at the Polk County jail Friday. He was charged with first-degree murder, among other charge including kidnapping, Judd said.
The sheriff's office, Judd said, has asked The State Attorney's Office 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Polk County, to prosecute the teen as an adult.
As of Friday, the office's top prosecutor Brian Haas had not announced his decision.
If evidence is found or developed during the Polk County investigation, Judd said authorities in Oklahoma will reopen the closed murder investigation.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (249)
Related
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Alito extends Supreme Court pause of SB4, Texas immigration law that would allow state to arrest migrants
- Dozens allege child sexual abuse in Maryland treatment program under newly filed lawsuits
- Private utility wants to bypass Georgia county to connect water to new homes near Hyundai plant
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Wisconsin Legislature to end session with vote on transgender athlete ban, no action on elections
- 5 dead, including 3 children, in crash involving school bus, truck in Rushville, Illinois
- Cleveland to host WWE SummerSlam 2024 at Cleveland Browns Stadium
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Scott Peterson appears virtually in California court as LA Innocence Project takes up murder case
Ranking
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- 1000-Lb. Sisters’ Amy Slaton and Boyfriend Kevin Seemingly Break Up
- No longer afraid, Rockies' Riley Pint opens up about his comeback journey: 'I want to be an inspiration'
- Ex-Jaguars employee who stole $22 million from team sentenced to 6½ years in prison
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Pope Francis says Ukraine should have courage of the white flag against Russia
- African American English, Black ASL are stigmatized. Experts say they deserve recognition
- Gender ID, sexual orientation can be talked about in Florida classrooms after lawsuit settlement
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
Trump, Biden could clinch 2024 nomination after today's Republican and Democratic primaries in Washington, Georgia, Mississippi
A groundbreaking drug law is scrapped in Oregon. What does that mean for decriminalization?
Darryl Strawberry resting comfortably after heart attack, according to New York Mets
2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
Girls are falling in love with wrestling, the nation’s fastest-growing high school sport
5 missing skiers found dead in Swiss Alps, search for 6th continues: We were trying the impossible
Lake Minnetonka just misses breaking 100-year record, ice remains after warm winter