Current:Home > MarketsA teen killed his father in 2023. Now, he is charged with his mom's murder. -Wealth Momentum Network
A teen killed his father in 2023. Now, he is charged with his mom's murder.
View
Date:2025-04-14 12:09:38
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! (33443)
Related
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Why Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized
- Desmond Gumbs juggles boxing deals, Suge Knight project while coaching Lincoln football
- Fani Willis' court filing confirms romantic relationship with lawyer on Trump case but denies any conflict
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Rep. Jim Jordan subpoenas Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis over use of federal funds
- The Biggest Sales Happening This Weekend From Nordstrom Rack, Vince Camuto, Coach Outlet & So Much More
- ‘No stone unturned:' Albuquerque police chief vows thorough investigation of corruption allegations
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Here's what you need to know for 2024 US Olympic marathon trials in Orlando
Ranking
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Joel Embiid set to miss more games with meniscus injury, 76ers say
- Target stops selling product dedicated to Civil Rights icons after TikTok video shows errors
- Tesla recalls over 2 million vehicles in US due to font size issue with warning lights
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Steal Hearts With Michael Kors' Valentine’s Day Collection Full of Chic Finds That’ll Woo Her Away
- Oklahoma rattled by shallow 5.1 magnitude earthquake
- NASA tracked a stadium-size asteroid that passed by Earth but was not a threat: See a video
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Struggling Los Angeles Kings fire head coach Todd McLellan
Discovery of bones and tools in German cave could rewrite history of humans and Neanderthals: Huge surprise
What Jersey Shore's Snooki Would Change About the Infamous Letter to Sammi Today
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Tom Sandoval Sparks Dating Rumors With Model Victoria Lee Robinson
Arkansas parole board chair was fired from police department for lying about sex with minor
'Compassionate soul': 16-year-old fatally shot while 'play fighting' with other teen, police say