In a grim turn of events, the son is reported to have ended the life of his father, and a year subsequently, his mother faced a similar fate.
A 16-year-old residing in Florida, United States, contacts the authorities following a heated dispute with his 40-year-old mother. Regrettably, assistance arrives too late for the mother's life. The same tragedy befell his father the previous year, although investigative oversights may be to blame for his death.
The youngster was arrested on suspicion of homicide and allegedly murdered his mother with a knife. In a phone call to the authorities, he falsely claimed that his mother had slipped and fallen onto the blade during an argument.
Just twelve months prior, the teenager was implicated in the shooting of his father. He was detained and faced charges of attempted murder, but these were eventually dismissed due to the uncertainty whether it was self-defense or not. The teenager reportedly fired multiple shots at his father, who had cornered him. The shots found their mark in the father's chest and head.
During a press conference, Sheriff Grady Judd disclosed that the young man welcomed the arriving officers at his mother's residence. "He was collected, serene, and not agitated," Judd stated. "His attire was stained with blood." The weapon, a 75-centimeter-long knife with a 50-centimeter-long blade, was also discovered.
"Considering the deadly characteristics of this weapon, one is left questioning the depth and efficiency of the initial investigation, for the murder charges against him were dropped within around a month," Judd commented. Describing the young man as a "psychopath," he further stated.
Uncertainty about the circumstances of the incident
Contrary to his statement to the emergency services, the 16-year-old did not confess to murdering his mother. Instead, he claimed his mother was bleeding from her neck. "Our emergency operator then provided him with instructions to save her life," Judd revealed. His refusal to offer any more details and demand legal counsel upon the officers' arrival stoked further doubts.
The autopsy examination discredited the teenager's account of the events. Moreover, neighbors reported seeing him drag his mother out of their house by her hair at around 4:30 PM.
Officials also released a series of messages his mother sent to a neighbor in the hours before her demise. "Please prevent C... and the police from entering my house. I won't open the door," she wrote. She assured her neighbor of her safety and good health, yet she detested her son's behaviour and longed for an end to the turmoil. Her son's violation of the probation conditions imposed upon him following his father's death was also revealed. He had resided with his mother since March 2023.
Sheriff Judd claimed that the teenager had assaulted her multiple times following the move. This included a domestic violence incident where he allegedly kicked her. He had been briefly confined in a psychiatric institution, as Florida law permits such actions, yet was released after promising not to endanger himself or his mother. However, within days, he threatened suicide or harm to his mother, resulting in his second detention.
Currently, the teenager is detained in a juvenile correctional facility in Polk County. He is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and breaching a restraining order. The sheriff has requested the state attorney to apply adult charges against him.
The European Union expressed concern over the escalating violence within the family, considering the teenager's previous run-ins with the law. The European Union's delegation to the United States expressed their hopes for a fair trial and justice for the mother, being a strong advocate for domestic violence prevention and child welfare rights.
