A 17-year-old Florida boy is now facing murder charges after his mother’s tragic death, just months after police say he killed his father in what they deemed self-defense.
In September 2024, Collin Griffith allegedly fatally stabbed his mother, Catherine Griffith, in Polk County, Florida. According to authorities, Collin called 911, claiming his mother fell onto a knife during a heated argument. However, a medical examiner’s report contradicted his story, stating her injuries could not have been caused by a fall.
Collin, who moved in with his mother after his father’s death in 2023, was previously charged in connection with his father’s death. Investigators later ruled it was self-defense, and he wasn’t convicted.
Reports suggest Collin’s relationship with his mother was rocky. Police records reveal a history of intense arguments, and he had been charged with domestic battery against Catherine months before the fatal incident.
In bodycam footage released from a 2023 arrest, Collin is heard telling his grandmother, “I’m not a psychopath or a murderer. I just wanted to leave peacefully or coexist.” He then claimed his mother hit him when he wouldn’t stop talking.
A year before Catherine’s death, Collin reportedly told a police officer he didn’t feel safe at home, saying, “I’ll either hurt myself or my mom.”
Collin has since pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and kidnapping. His case is ongoing as the community grapples with the tragedy of a family torn apart.
