A Charlotte County teen accused of killing his mother 18 months after killing his father was found not guilty on Wednesday.
Closing arguments wrapped up Tuesday morning in Polk County after a five-day trial.
Collin Griffith , 17, was found not guilty of killing his mother , Catherine Griffith, 39, at his grandmother's home in Auburndale in September of 2024.
Griffith's defense attorney, Amy Thornhill, took over an hour in her closing argument. She said Griffith acted in self-defense, alleging his mother had a history of lying and threatening him. She stated that at one point, she even pulled a gun on him.
Griffith was found to have killed his father in Oklahoma in 2023. His attorney was able to prove self-defense due to the fact he was treated poorly by his father.
Griffith was not allowed to leave the farm they lived on and was only fed one meal a day. It was also proven that Griffith had PTSD and other health problems.
During a PCSO news conference, it was said that Collin and his mother had an “argument about chores,” leading him to run away to his grandmother’s home.
His grandmother was in the Florida Keys at the time.
On Sept. 8, Catherine drove to him after Collin refused to come home.
She arrived around 4 p.m. when neighbors said they saw the two arguing out front.
According to witnesses, Collin grabbed his mother by the hair and dragged her inside the home.
About two hours later, PCSO received a call from Collin stating, “he had a fight with his mom, and she is bleeding from the neck.”
PCSO said investigations revealed that Collin used a kitchen knife to stab his mother in the neck twice.
Deputies arrived on the scene where they say Collin immediately told them, “I know my rights, I want an attorney.”
Collin was arrested and is facing a first-degree murder charge. Judd said he was previously a part of a Charlotte County correctional program.
Deputies arrested Griffith at his home for domestic battery for hurting his mom in 2023. He spent the night in jail. But on his way home, this comment worried deputies.
“I'm trying to figure out why we would have a corporal at the jail that took you out, say that that you said, 'Don't put me in the car with her. I'm going to kill her,'” a deputy told Griffith.
He told those deputies that he wanted to be put in foster care.
“I'm in a constant state of fight or flight, and I don't know, if I think she's going to do something, even if she's not, I might act,” he said. “I'm not going to, like, go crazy or anything, but I'm not sure.”
The jury is made up of one man, and the rest are women.
Griffith's grandmother and aunt were in the courtroom, both of whom were supportive of him.