A Florida teenager, Collin Griffith, has been found not guilty of murdering his mother, Catherine Griffith. Authorities initially charged him after she was fatally stabbed in September 2024 at his grandmother’s house in Polk County. This incident came after Collin had claimed self-defense following the shooting of his father in 2023, which was deemed justifiable.
The case took a turn when Collin called 911, saying that a fight had occurred and that his mother had fallen on a knife. However, a medical examiner determined that her injuries were not consistent with falling on a knife, leading to murder charges against him.
During the trial, Collin’s lawyer argued that he was defending himself during the altercation and pointed out that there was no evidence suggesting that Catherine was at her mother’s house against her will. His grandmother testified that Catherine had been unpredictable and had shown violence towards Collin in the past. The defense attorney also mentioned an instance where Catherine had allegedly pointed a gun at her son.
In her closing arguments, Collin’s lawyer stated that the prosecution lacked evidence about what truly transpired that day. She suggested it was possible that Catherine, out of anger, threatened Collin with a knife and hinted at the possibility of a “suicide by son.”
Ultimately, the jury acquitted Collin of all charges, including murder and kidnapping. This decision came after a turbulent period where Collin had recently lost his father, leading to a complicated relationship with his mother, marked by previous arguments and a domestic battery charge against him.
Before Catherine’s death, Collin had expressed to police that he did not feel safe at home and had fears of harming himself or his mother. Despite these challenges, he maintained that he was not a threat and only wanted a peaceful relationship.
