Teen Who Killed Dad in Self-Protection Accused of Murdering Mother

A Florida teen who police declare beforehand killed his father in self-defense is accused of murdering his mom after allegedly telling her, “I’m not a psychopath.” 

Collin Griffith, 17, was charged with homicide in September 2024 after his mom, Catherine Griffith, was fatally stabbed within the neck in Polk County, Fla., in line with a possible trigger affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

Police declare within the affidavit that Collin referred to as 911 for assist, saying that he and his mom had gotten right into a combat and that she had fallen on a knife. Catherine was later pronounced lifeless.

The medical expert, nevertheless, dominated that the accidents she suffered couldn’t have been attributable to falling onto a knife, in line with the affidavit. Collin was subsequently indicted on homicide and kidnapping costs and has pleaded not responsible.

Police say that Collin got here to reside together with his mom in Florida following the taking pictures loss of life of his father in 2023. The affidavit states that Collin was initially arrested in connection together with his father’s loss of life, however that proof emerged that led investigators to consider it was self-defense and he was by no means convicted of a criminal offense in connection.

Within the affidavit, police allege that there had been a historical past of heated fights between Collin and Catherine and that he had beforehand been charged with home battery in opposition to his mom months earlier than her loss of life.

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In bodycam footage obtained and revealed by Fox 4, Collin is heard chatting with his grandmother as he sits in a police automobile following an arrest in November 2023.

“I used to be saying, ‘Mother, I’m not a psychopath. I’m not this assassin. I’m simply making an attempt to peacefully depart or peacefully coexist,’” he reportedly advised his grandmother. “She stored telling me to close up and shut up, and after I wouldn’t shut up, she hit me.”

The grandmother responds by disputing that he had ever mentioned he needed to coexist peacefully with Catherine.

The possible trigger affidavit states {that a} yr earlier than his mom’s loss of life, Collin allegedly advised a police officer that he didn’t need to return house, saying he didn’t really feel secure and that he would “kill myself or my mother.”