In a shocking incident, a 17-year-old Florida teenager is accused of fatally stabbing his mother, a year after he allegedly shot his father dead in Oklahoma. The teenager, Collin Griffith, dialed 911 on Sunday night, claiming that his mother, Catherine Griffith, 39, had been stabbed in the neck during a scuffle after she attacked him with a knife and accidentally fell on it, as per the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement found Catherine dead. When questioned about the incident, Collin became unresponsive and insisted on speaking to an attorney. However, investigators found discrepancies between the evidence at the scene and the account Collin had given over the phone.
Eyewitnesses provided a different narrative, stating that they saw Collin and his mother arguing outside their home. They reported seeing the teenager grab his mother by the hair and forcefully pull her inside the house, despite her pleas to be let go.
The owner of the house, Collin’s grandmother, was not present during the incident. However, she informed the police that Collin had a history of physical and verbal confrontations with his mother. The grandmother had previously expressed concerns about Collin’s behavioral issues to neighbors.
The autopsy report from the Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Catherine died from a deep knife wound to the neck, which was inconsistent with an accidental injury. This marks the second parent Collin is accused of killing.
In 2023, Collin allegedly shot his father, Charles Robert Griffith, during a dispute at their Oklahoma home on Valentine’s Day. At the time, he was 15 years old and claimed self-defense, stating that his father had cornered him in a bedroom. Collin’s mother paid $50,000 for his bail, and the charges were eventually dropped as self-defense could not be ruled out.
Collin was reunited with his mother a year after his father’s death through Florida’s Department of Children and Families. It was during this time that he first threatened to kill his mother, before allegedly carrying out the act on Sunday.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described Collin as a “violent predator” who has now killed both his parents. He vowed to hold Collin accountable and to do everything possible to keep him away from society. The teenager now faces charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and violation of a no-contact order.