THIS BLOG IS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR UPDATES.
Teenager Collin Griffith was 15 when he allegedly killed his father in 2023. He claimed it occurred in self-defence. In September 2024, Collin stabbed his mom Catherine to demise. He claimed she ‘fell’ onto the knife as she lunged at him, however neighbors informed police in any other case.
Simply to notice, some studies spell his identify Collin and others say Colin. The bulk use the LL so we’re going with that.
The individuals concerned on this case are Charles – Collin’s father, who was 41 when he died in 2023. Catherine was 39 when she died in September 2024. Collin was 15 on the time he killed his father and is 17 now. Collin additionally has an older brother, Christopher who was born in 2000,
Charles and Catherine divorced in Could 2020 after twenty years of marriage.
You may view Catherine’s social media right here:
In August 2022, Catherine requested for sole custody of Collin (Christopher was an grownup by this level). In courtroom paperwork, it stated that Charles had now allowed her ‘any contact with’ the boy since December 31, 2019 after a telephone name the place he ‘begged his Mom to come back get him.’
Charles informed the courtroom that he wouldn’t let Collin talk along with his mom after she ship him a hand-written suicide notice in Could 2020. He additionally informed the courtroom that Catherine solely contacted her son when she was ‘manic. Catherine additionally pretended to be an grownup male on Discord in an try to speak with Collin and to encourage him to run away.
Catherine accused Charles of alienating Collin from her ‘by telling him detrimental issues and by monitoring and stalking her social media in an try to search out something to make her look unhealthy.’
Catherine claimed that Charles had harassed and stalked her and that in consequence, she suffered from continual PTSD. She requested for a no-contact order.
Collin apparently informed Charles that he was homosexual and after that, Charles wouldn’t even let him depart the home to goto college. That is all in accordance with Catherine.
Catherine had additionally requested the courtroom to order Charles to take Collin to little one remedy, saying ‘This little one might already be struggling emotional irreparable hurt by [the father’s] parental alienation and emotional abuse of the minor little one.’
Charles responded with claims that Collin didn’t want to see his mom, saying Catherine had been ‘mentally and emotionally unstable’ and had abused medicine and alcohol throughout this time.
The custody battle was ongoing in February 2023. On Valentine’s Day, Collin shot and killed Charles. He informed authorities that he did it in self protection after his father cornered him in a room and threatened him with a knife.
An affidavit for Collin’s arrest stated there was ‘possible trigger to consider the defendant, the youth, dedicated first diploma homicide.’
Authorities stated that Collin’s declare of getting been cornered by his father didn’t match the proof on the scene.
Collin was arrested for homicide. Catherine paid his $50k bail and was awarded sole custody. Duh.
The case in opposition to Collin was dropped when prosecutors couldn’t rule out that the homicide occurred in self-defense.
In September 2023, a faculty officer referred to as police to do a psychological test as a result of Collin had stated his mom pulled a gun on him throughout an argument.
Collin claimed Catherine stated she would kill him and threatened to kill herself. She denied the claims to a Sheriff’s officer, insisting Collin was upset as a result of she took his telephone and AirPods and since he was failing lessons.
Catherine added that Collin had been recognized with a character dysfunction and PTSD after he had been ‘held captive’ by his father for 1,041 days with out human contact.
Collin was then put in protecting custody for a psychological well being analysis underneath the Baker Act. He was going to be launched after eight days however was stored within the facility after he threatened to kill his mom if he was returned to her custody.
He reportedly informed workers: ‘I’ll kill myself or my mother…. throw them out of the automobile, shoot or stab them, I’ve carried out it earlier than, to my dad, I do know I can do it once more.’
Catherine then positioned the teenager in a long-term facility close to Jupiter, the place he spent a number of months earlier than returning to stay together with her.
In November 2023, Collin was charged with home violence battery in opposition to his mom after he attacked her, pulling her hair and kneeing her within the groin. He informed officers on the time he would kill his mom if he was launched and needed to get right into a automobile together with her.
In Could 2024, Catherine purchased Collin a $26k VW Jetta as an early commencement reward.
Per week earlier than she died, she thanked all her family and friends on Fb. “I’m grateful that it doesn’t matter what I encounter or experience- I’ve household, associates and a group of people who find themselves right here to assist me, even on the times when I’ve not been one of the best me. Thanks to everybody who has helped me see that life is an journey value residing and preventing for on a regular basis. Life classes are simply those- classes.”
A pal of Catherine’s has shared these texts that had been despatched shortly earlier than her homicide.
One reads “Hey [redacted] please don’t let Collin or the police into my house. I’m not opening my door.” IIt goes on to say “Collin simply hates me and I’m bored with this crap.”
The neighbor responds: “The place are you and the way am I going to cease him?”
The mom responds: “Don’t give them the keys. I’m house in my room.”
One other reads. “I’m going to sleep I positioned the bookshelf on the wall cleared out collins room. I’m exhausted and studying a e book and sleeping.”
On Sunday she texts that Collin is violating his probation.
She says that quote: I’m assembly along with his probation officer Monday morning if he doesn’t come house at this time by ten. He is aware of the time and deadline. He’s selecting to skip it and conceal out at my mother’s home in Polk county which can be a violation.”
The final textual content she obtained stated:
“He gained’t pay attention I’m going to drive to get him and if he doesn’t get within the automobile then Polk county can take care of him.”
That was the final textual content.
On September 8, 2024, Collin referred to as 911 from Polk County, Florida. He claimed he “had a really lengthy battle” along with his mom and she or he “fell on a knife” leading to a neck wound. An post-mortem report from the Medical Examiner’s Workplace revealed that Catherine Griffith died as a consequence of a deep penetrating wound to the neck.
Native resident Nancy Ok. Jones informed WFLA that Collin dragged his mom again into the home.
Witnesses informed detectives they noticed the 2 arguing exterior the house, which belonged to the Collin’s grandmother, when at one level, he grabbed Catherine by the hair and dragged her inside the house. Catherine was heard to plead with him, saying “let me go” repeatedly, witnesses informed the sheriff’s workplace.
In keeping with deputies who arrived on the scene, the teenager was “calm, cool, collected… and he had blood on him”, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd reported. “The health worker stated it’s simply not cheap or believable that [Catherine] died the best way that he stated she did,” the sheriff acknowledged.
“It simply didn’t occur.” Collin turned “uncooperative” with deputies and requested to talk to a lawyer.
Regardless of allegations of a protracted battle, police discovered the house to be “neat and clear, [with] no proof of any form of a protracted battle, as he stated.”
Police stated that Collin confirmed “zero regret” regardless of his mom being severely injured and no urgency in direction of his mom’s situation. “He appeared the deputy within the eye and stated: ‘I do know my rights,’” Judd acknowledged, including that the teenager then requested a lawyer.
Collin now faces costs of first-degree homicide, kidnapping and violation of a no-contact order following his mom’s demise.
Brian Hass, the state lawyer for the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida introduced that Griffith could be tried as an grownup “based mostly upon the egregious information and circumstances of this case.”
Collin’s trial started in January 2025.
The 911 name that was made following Collin’s assault on his mom was performed and Collin requested to be excused from the courtroom earlier than the recording started.
Prosecutors went into graphic element about Cathy’s homicide. They stated that she was stabbed with such power that the knife went in a single facet of her neck and out the opposite facet, killing her.
Collin’s protection tried to current the argument that Cathy was “unpredictable, erratic” and went into “rages.”
On day two, Forensic Investigator Brandy Bange spoke about how Collin was impassive for the whole half-hour that she spent with him. She stated that she photographed Collin and swabbed the blood on him. She additionally testified that he had no defensive wounds on his arms.
Sgt Michael Schneider additionally testified and stated that Collin walked as much as him as soon as at a disaster unit and stated “I have to be Baker Acted.” When the Sgt. requested why, Collin stated that he would both kill himself or his mom.
Deputy Alexander Sharp additionally testified about assembly with Cathy previous to her demise. He stated she was nervous, quiet and fearful of Collin. She had accidents that had been documented and photographed which included redness and bruising on her abdomen — Collin had apparently kneed his mother and kicked her with a shoe.
Cathay informed authorities that Collin was mad as a result of she took away his X-Field and telephone.
Many regulation enforcement officers spoke about occasions the place Collin had threatened his mom. Detective Lacey Venoniani stated she heard Collin threaten hurt to his mom a number of occasions.
Collin informed authorities that he would moderately be in jail, a psych ward or foster care than to stay with Cathy.
Collin hated being informed ‘no’ by his mom. She took him on cruises, purchased him limitless Starbucks and paid for every thing however he refused to do primary chores like take out the trash.
Collin informed one LE officer that he had two totally different personas: Collin 1 and Collin 2: Collin 1 simply needs to outlive. Collin 2 protects him and kills for him.
Collin stated that Collin 1 would let him kill his mother.
Extra graphic proof about Cathy’s demise was offered on day three.
Dr David Garavan, the Medical Examiner, stated that the knife went via her esophagus, wind pipe, vocal chord, and got here out on the opposite facet.
The decide reiterated to the ME that the demise of Collin’s father was unable to be mentioned. The jury weren’t knowledgeable about his demise and the circumstances surrounding it – very Tracey Nix.
Cathay’s father, Robert Walantas, took the stand. He recalled that Collin turned mad at his mom and grandmother and stated one thing alongside the traces of ’I’m bored with these two bitches/wish to see them bleed out.’
Textual content messages between Collin and Cathy had been proven in courtroom. A detective learn messages aloud, similar to: you stated you hated me and I used to be an evil bitch – my dad is sending the recording of you planning my homicide – good luck hiring an excellent lawyer.
Texts from Cathy to Collin stated issues about shutting down his telephone, canceling his automobile insurance coverage, promoting his automobile, pulling him out of college.
One of many final moments captured on ring cam earlier than Cathy’s demise was her telling Collin to both get within the automobile and comply with her or she was going to name the cops.
The protection tried to argue that the discuss homicide was from a online game like Roblox.
Susan, Cathy’s mom/Collin’s grandmother testified that day.
She stated that in January 2024, Collin stayed together with her for weeks and that Cathy forgot the place he was.
She additionally spoke about many cases the place Cathy allegedly tried to take her personal life. She indicated that Cathy minimize herself off from members of the family and had a historical past of compulsively mendacity.
Susan stated that Cathy was violent in direction of Collin. She alleged that Cathy beat him with a belt, made him do pushups and held a weight over his head whereas he ran.
She stated that Cathy as soon as gave Collin a gun and informed him to kill her.
Susan stated she now speaks to Collin in jail round thrice per week. She encourages him to learn the bible and pray. She additionally provides him wholesome consuming suggestions as she is a dietician.
Susan stated she loves Collin and doesn’t wish to see him goto jail. She stated she believes that he didn’t homicide Cathy.
Susan did admit that when Collin lived along with his dad, he stated he would have most popular to stay with Cathy. She stated that made Cathy pleased as a result of she felt like she had missed out on years of his life.
Each the state and protection rested on day 4.
The closing arguments on day 5 targeted on the prosecution highlighting Collin’s hatred for Cathy.
The protection principally argued that Cathy dedicated suicide by selecting up a knife and threatening Collin with it. They stated that her demise occurred in self-defense in the course of the battle.
On February 5, 2025, after 11 hours of deliberations, the jury got here again with their verdict.
Collin was acquitted on the costs of the kidnapping and first-degree homicide of his mom Cathy.
This data is from Fox 13:
Collin was seen hugging his public protection crew after which smiling in direction of his members of the family, together with his aunt and grandmother sitting within the courtroom, who had been relieved by the decision.
In a brief assertion after the trial, Collin’s Public Defender, Amy Thornhill, stated:
“I respect all the consideration the jurors paid to what was offered to them. It was a troublesome determination and I thank them.”
After the decision was introduced, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued the next assertion:
“Our detectives firmly consider that Collin Griffith murdered his mom. The jury decided that they might not convict him past and to the exclusion of all cheap doubt. Throughout our investigation, detectives discovered witnesses that consider he additionally murdered his father in Oklahoma. That investigation is ongoing.”
If he was convicted, Griffith confronted the potential for life in jail.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/information/article-13847467/family-secrets-collin-griffith-parents-murder.html
/https://www.insideedition.com/websites/default/information/inline-files/Collinpercent20Grffithpercent20Probpercent20Causepercent20Oklahoma.pdf
https://www.themirror.com/information/us-news/mom-shares-desire-live-life-692700
https://www.clickorlando.com/information/native/2024/09/12/i-see-a-psychopath-teen-accused-of-stabbing-killing-mother-in-polk-county-after-killing-father-sheriff-says/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=wkmg6&fbclid=IwY2xjawFxvNtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRjXVTMQGyY8NYBgdw8TPKCdMddAzqRh39WZt5NCsBSZum3Wf0hwtaAVwA_aem_ZJp_4RCfdMXr2Chm7W996g&ai
https://www.courttv.com/information/fl-v-collin-griffith-deadly-son-murder-trial
https://www.fox13news.com/information/florida-teen-accused-killing-mother-1-year-after-killing-dad-learns-his-fate
