Teen kills his mom in Florida and dad in Oklahoma within 19 months, deputies say

A 17-year-old killed his mom in Florida about a year and a half after he was accused of fatally shooting his father in Oklahoma, authorities said.

Collin Griffith is now charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mom, 39-year-old Catherine Griffith, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a Sept. 11 news conference.

He’s accused of stabbing his mom to death 19 months after Oklahoma deputies said he called 911 and reported he had shot his father in the chest and head in self-defense.

In February 2023, he was arrested in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, on probable cause of first-degree murder, but ultimately he wasn’t prosecuted after the district attorney’s office said investigators couldn’t rule out self-defense.

“My question is, was there anything else that could have been done?” Judd said. “Had Oklahoma been able to act, Catherine would be alive and well today.”

Griffith, who was 15 at the time, said his father had chased him through the house with a knife until he was cornered in his bedroom, where ultimately he shot his dad, deputies said in the affidavit.

After that case was dropped, he moved to Charlotte County, Florida, to live with his mom, according to Judd.

Griffith’s time in Florida was marked by violent incidents, including at least two times when he threatened to kill his mother, deputies said. In November 2023, he was charged with domestic violence battery against his mom, according to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Family told law enforcement they didn’t feel safe around Griffith, Judd said.

On Sept. 6, the son left home following a fight with his mom and went to stay at his grandmother’s house in Auburndale while she was away, the sheriff said.

Two days later, his mom drove up to the house to talk to her son when violence erupted again, according to Judd. Witnesses said the son dragged his mom by the hair into the house while she begged him to let her go, deputies said.

About two hours later, the teen called 911 and said he and his mom were fighting when she lunged at him with a knife, fell on it and she was bleeding from the neck, according to deputies.

But Judd said further investigation “clearly and unequivocally” showed that’s not what happened.

The medical examiner determined the woman couldn’t have sustained that kind of wound to the neck accidentally, and the teen was charged with murder, kidnapping and violation of a no-contact order, deputies said.

The sheriff’s office has asked the state attorney’s office to prosecute Griffith as an adult.

Judd added that the district attorney’s office in Oklahoma said it would consider re-opening the case there if Florida investigators find evidence to do so.

Auburndale is about a 50-mile drive east from Tampa.

This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Teen kills his mom in Florida and dad in Oklahoma within 19 months, deputies say."