AUBURNDALE -- A 17-year-old boy who deputies say previously killed his father is in custody, accused of murder in the death of his mother.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd says Collin Griffith, stabbed 39-year-old Catherine Griffith, at a home in The Hamptons, a 55+ mobile home complex just outside the city of Auburndale. Judd says the teen killed his father in Oklahoma on Valentine's Day 2023.
Judd says deputies responded Sunday after getting a 911 call from Collin Griffith, who said he and his mother had a "very long fight" and she "fell" on a knife and was bleeding from the neck. Operators were giving him first aid instructions but when deputies arrived, Judd says, the teen was "calm and collected" while being covered in blood. Deputies found a bloody 12-inch knife inside the home.
Judd says the medical examiner reported that the fall is not reasonably plausible as an explanation for the mother's death. Witnesses outside the home reported seeing Collin Griffith drag his mother into the house by her hair.
Both suspect and victim are from Port Charlotte, and were staying at the home of the teen's grandmother while she was down in the Keys.
The sheriff says while investigating the mother's death, deputies discovered that Collin Griffith had previously been implicated in the death of his father. The teen shot and killed Charles Griffith, claiming his dad had tried to stab him. The Lincoln County sheriff and Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations charged the teen with first-degree murder. But the charges were dropped less than a month later, as detectives said they could not disprove the teen's claim of self-defense. Collin was released to his mother in Charlotte County.
Judd says six months later, the teen was Baker Acted (placed in protective custody), then allegedly stated that he would kill himself, or kill his mother, by shooting or stabbing her. Charlotte County officials put him back in Baker Act custody for three months later. He was arrested in November for domestic violence, accused of "stomping" his mother after she took away his video game privileges. In February of this year, Collin Griffith ran away to his grandmother's home at The Hamptons after an argument with his mother. Deputies turned the teen over to DCF and he was reunited with Catherine Griffith. Judd says the teen again threatened to kill his mother.
On September 6th, Collin again ran to his grandmother's home after another argument with his mother. Catherine Griffith drove up to Auburndale Sunday (8th), hours before she died.
Judd says he sees a pattern of "totally erratic behavior". He says the teen showed "zero remorse", from the time deputies arrived Sunday. According to Judd, Griffith told the arriving deputy "I know my rights," and asked for a lawyer. He's asking the State Attorney to prosecute Griffith as an adult.
The sheriff is also talking with prosecutors in Oklahoma, who might reopen the investigation into the death of Griffith's father.
Watch the news conference with Sheriff Judd below.
Photo: Canva