Bartow, Florida – A jury in Auburndale took 11 hours to reach a unanimous decision regarding the case of Collin Griffith, a 17-year-old acquitted of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. The incident, which occurred in September, involved Griffith’s mother, Catherine Griffith, who was stabbed in the neck at their Auburndale home.
The trial revealed that Collin was living with his grandmother in September while his mother, Catherine Griffith, from Charlotte County, came to pick him up. Witnesses testified that an argument ensued outside the house, with Collin later pulling his mother inside. Subsequently, the teenager called 911 to report his mother’s injury.
Initially, Collin claimed that his mother fell on the knife. However, during the trial five months later, his attorney, Amy Thornhill, argued that he acted in self-defense. Thornhill suggested that Catherine was the one who brandished the knife and threatened Collin, leading him to defend himself.
The defense emphasized the turbulent relationship between Collin and his mother, as disclosed by Collin himself in a body-worn camera video at their Charlotte County home in November 2023. The video depicted Collin expressing concerns about his safety and alluding to uncertainties about future events.
In February 2023, Collin had shot and killed his father in Oklahoma, claiming self-defense and avoiding any charges. Prosecutors declined to comment, while Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his detectives’ belief that Collin was responsible for both his mother and father’s deaths. Witnesses also implicated Collin in his father’s murder in Oklahoma.
Family members related to Catherine Griffith attended the trial but chose not to provide any comments regarding the case. The investigation into the father’s murder in Oklahoma remains ongoing, as authorities continue to gather evidence. This case sheds light on the complex dynamics within the Griffith family, highlighting the tragic events that have unfolded.