A tragic and deeply unsettling case has emerged from Polk County, Florida, where 17-year-old Collin Griffith is accused of murdering his mother, Catherine Griffith, a crime that took place just one year after the suspicious death of his father, Charles Griffith, in Oklahoma. Collin, whose past is already fraught with violent incidents and troubling behavior, now stands accused of committing one of the most heinous crimes imaginable: matricide. This case has sent shockwaves through the small town of Auburndale, and beyond, as the public tries to understand what could drive a teenager to kill both his parents within the span of a year.
The grim sequence of events began on Sunday, September 8, 2024, when Collin’s mother, 39-year-old Catherine Griffith, visited the home of her mother—Collin’s grandmother—in Auburndale. Catherine had come to the house after a heated argument with Collin, an argument that reportedly began over something as trivial as household chores. Catherine had driven from her home to try and convince Collin to return, as he had fled to his grandmother’s house, refusing to come home. Catherine, described by friends and family as a caring and devoted mother, arrived at the Auburndale residence around 4 p.m., where witnesses saw her engaging in a tense argument with her son outside.
What began as a heated exchange escalated rapidly into violence. According to neighbors, the argument soon turned physical, with Collin allegedly grabbing his mother by her hair and dragging her inside the home. It would be the last time anyone saw Catherine Griffith alive.
Two hours later, at approximately 6 p.m., a chilling 911 call came into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). On the other end of the line was Collin himself, calmly stating, “I had a fight with my mom, and she is bleeding from the neck.” When deputies arrived on the scene, what they discovered confirmed their worst fears: Catherine Griffith had been brutally murdered, stabbed twice in the neck with a kitchen knife. Collin, standing over her lifeless body, was immediately taken into custody. His demeanor, however, was cold and calculated, according to authorities. When approached by deputies, Collin’s first words were, “I know my rights. I want an attorney.”
The teen now faces charges of first-degree murder for the violent and gruesome killing of his mother, a crime that has left the community reeling and seeking answers. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who addressed the media during a news conference held just days after the incident, described Collin as a dangerous and violent individual. “He’s shown zero remorse. Everybody that should be special to him in his life is dead because they crossed him,” Judd stated, speaking to the disturbing pattern of behavior exhibited by Collin over the past few years.
Sheriff Judd’s words echo the sentiments of many who have followed Collin’s case, particularly in light of the fact that this is not the first time the 17-year-old has been accused of murdering a parent. Just one year prior, in February 2023, Collin was at the center of another chilling crime: the death of his father, Charles Griffith, in Lincoln County, Oklahoma.
On that day, Collin placed a frantic call to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, claiming that he had shot his father in self-defense following a violent argument. According to Collin, his father had pulled a knife on him and chased him through the house, cornering him in a bedroom. Fearing for his life, Collin said he grabbed a gun and shot Charles Griffith twice—once in the head and once in the chest. Despite this account, inconsistencies between Collin’s story and the evidence at the scene led to doubts about the veracity of his claims. Nevertheless, the charges against Collin were eventually dropped, and he was released without further legal action.
The 2023 incident was deeply troubling, but it was ultimately dismissed as a case of self-defense. However, in light of the recent murder of Catherine Griffith, law enforcement in Oklahoma is now reconsidering that decision. Sheriff Judd has confirmed that his office has requested that Oklahoma authorities reopen the investigation into Charles Griffith’s death, as the parallels between the two murders suggest a much more sinister pattern of behavior than was initially suspected.
The question on many people’s minds now is how such a troubled young man was allowed to return to his community without more stringent oversight. Sheriff Judd provided further details during his news conference, shedding light on Collin’s past behavior and criminal history. After the death of his father, Collin had been placed in a correctional program in Charlotte County, Florida, designed to address behavioral issues. However, it appears that the program failed to rehabilitate the teen, as his violent tendencies only escalated upon his release. Sheriff Judd described Collin as having a history of violence, including an arrest for domestic violence after he allegedly assaulted his mother. Collin’s grandmother, who witnessed the altercation, had testified that it was not a case of self-defense, further undermining Collin’s claims of being a victim of his parents’ aggression.
The death of Catherine Griffith marks the culmination of a series of violent outbursts that have shattered what appeared, from the outside, to be a typical family. Friends of Catherine describe her as a devoted mother who had struggled to keep her son on the right path following the traumatic loss of her husband. She had reportedly been working with local authorities and therapists to address Collin’s emotional and behavioral issues, but it appears that her efforts were in vain. “Catherine was a loving mother who did everything she could for Collin. She wanted to believe that he could be helped, but in the end, he was too far gone,” one family friend said in the aftermath of the tragedy.
As Collin Griffith sits in the Polk County Jail awaiting trial for the murder of his mother, prosecutors are seeking to have him tried as an adult, a move that could see him face life in prison if convicted. Sheriff Judd has made it clear that Collin’s age should not be a factor in determining the severity of his punishment. “He may be 17, but he’s committed an adult crime, and he should face adult consequences,” Judd stated emphatically during the press briefing.
Meanwhile, the community of Auburndale is grappling with the shocking events that have unfolded in their midst. Neighbors who witnessed the argument between Collin and Catherine on the day of the murder are struggling to come to terms with the fact that the situation escalated to such a violent and tragic end. Many are left questioning whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy, particularly given Collin’s history of violence and the unresolved nature of his father’s death.
The reopening of the investigation into Charles Griffith’s death may yet provide answers to some of these lingering questions. For now, however, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served for Catherine Griffith, whose life was cut short in such a brutal and senseless manner.
As the legal proceedings against Collin move forward, the case is sure to draw significant attention from both the media and the public. The shocking nature of the crimes, combined with the chilling similarities between the deaths of both of Collin’s parents, paints a disturbing portrait of a young man whose capacity for violence seemingly knows no bounds.
For the Griffith family, the losses are unimaginable. Both parents are now gone, leaving behind a legacy of pain and unanswered questions. In the coming weeks and months, as the case against Collin unfolds, many will be watching closely, hoping for justice to be served and for some semblance of closure to be brought to a family torn apart by violence. For those who knew Catherine and Charles Griffith, the hope is that their deaths will not be in vain, and that the full truth of what happened to them will finally come to light.
