POLK COUNTY, Fla. – In a highly controversial verdict, a Florida jury found 17-year-old Collin Griffith not guilty of the first-degree murder of his mother, Catherine Griffith, following more than 11 hours of deliberation. The decision comes two years after Griffith admitted to killing his father in Oklahoma, claiming self-defense in that case.
Collin Griffith was accused of fatally stabbing his 39-year-old mother, Catherine Griffith, in September of last year. During a 911 call, Collin told dispatchers that his mother had “fallen on a knife” during a “very long fight.” However, prosecutors argued that Collin had stabbed his mother in the neck and “watched her bleed out in front of him.”
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The case took a dramatic turn when the jury was informed that Collin had previously shot someone in self-defense, though they were not told that the victim was his father, Charles Griffith. In 2023, Collin admitted to fatally shooting his 43-year-old father in Oklahoma, but prosecutors dropped the first-degree murder charge after they could not disprove his claim of self-defense. RELATED: Polk County Sheriff Judd: 17-Year-Old Port Charlotte Psychopath Kills Mom, Previously Killed Father
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed disappointment with the verdict, stating that detectives firmly believe Collin murdered his mother. “The jury determined that they could not convict him beyond and to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt,” Judd said. “During our investigation, detectives found witnesses who believe he also murdered his father in Oklahoma. That investigation is ongoing.”
The trial, which began earlier this week, saw intense arguments from both sides. Prosecutor Mark Levine painted a grim picture of the crime, telling jurors, “She left this world knowing that the person that took her out was the son that she gave everything to.”
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Defense attorney Amy Porinchak Thornhill, however, urged the jury to focus on the facts rather than emotion. She suggested that Catherine Griffith may have intentionally provoked the confrontation, asking, “Isn’t it also reasonable that Cathy knew what the outcome was going to be? And she picked up a knife and threatened Collin with it? You’ve heard of suicide by cop, isn’t it reasonable to think that Cathy committed suicide by son?”
The deadly incident occurred after Collin and his mother had reportedly gotten into an argument, prompting Collin to go to his grandmother’s house. Catherine later arrived at the house to bring Collin home, but the grandmother was not present at the time. The confrontation escalated, resulting in Catherine’s death.
Collin’s troubled relationship with his mother was further highlighted by his November 2023 arrest for a domestic violence incident involving her. At the time, Collin told deputies he did not want to return to his mother’s custody, claiming he was in “a constant state of fight or flight.”
The verdict has sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing relief for Collin and others questioning the jury’s decision. Legal analysts have noted the challenges of prosecuting cases involving claims of self-defense, particularly when the defendant has a history of violent incidents.
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Prosecutor Mark Levine’s opening statement set the tone for the trial: “It was a Sunday evening, September 8th of last year in Auburndale, Florida. And it was at that time that the defendant viciously and savagely unleashed his full fury and hatred toward his mother upon her.”
Defense attorney Porinchak Thornhill countered by emphasizing Catherine Griffith’s alleged history of violence, stating, “Cathy has threatened or done harm to other people.”
With the not-guilty verdict, Collin Griffith will be released from Polk County Jail, where he had been held without bond. However, the ongoing investigation into his father’s death in Oklahoma means that his legal troubles may not be over.
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