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BARTOW, Fla. (BFMG) — A Florida jury has found 17-year-old Collin Griffith not guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the September 2024 fatal stabbing of his mother, Catherine Griffith. The verdict, delivered after a five-day trial in Polk County, comes nearly two years after Griffith was cleared of charges in the shooting death of his father in Oklahoma.
Case Background
On September 8, 2024, Griffith, who had fled to his grandmother’s home in central Florida following an argument with his mother, allegedly engaged in a violent confrontation when she arrived to bring him back home. Within 30 minutes according to witness reports, Griffith was seen dragging his mother by her hair into the house. Shortly thereafter, he placed a 911 call stating that Catherine had “fallen on a knife” during a prolonged struggle.
The prosecution argued that Griffith acted out of hatred toward his mother, highlighting a history of domestic violence and presenting forensic evidence that contradicted his self-defense claim. The medical examiner testified that Catherine’s wounds—two deep knife punctures to the neck—were inconsistent with an accidental fall onto a blade. Additionally, text messages revealed in court suggested that Catherine had threatened to expose Griffith’s alleged deception about his father’s killing, an argument that prosecutors posited as a possible motive for her death.
Defense Strategy and Verdict
The defense countered by portraying Catherine as an erratic and abusive figure who had a documented history of violent tendencies, suicidal behavior, and estrangement from family members. Griffith’s attorneys presented testimony from his grandmother, Susan Detman, who stated that Catherine had, at times, encouraged her son to harm her, including once handing him a gun and asking him to kill her. The defense argued that Griffith acted in a desperate attempt to protect himself from his mother’s escalating aggression.
During closing arguments, defense attorney Amy Porinchak Thornhill suggested that Catherine may have intentionally provoked the fatal altercation. “We’ve heard of suicide by cop—could this be suicide by son?” she asked the jury. The argument appeared to resonate, as jurors ultimately determined that there was reasonable doubt regarding Griffith’s intent and actions on the day of his mother’s death.
The verdict has sparked mixed reactions from law enforcement and the public. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed disappointment, maintaining that his department remains convinced Griffith was responsible for his mother’s murder. “The jury determined that they could not convict him beyond a reasonable doubt,” Judd said. “But detectives have found witnesses who believe he also murdered his father in Oklahoma. That investigation is ongoing”.
Despite his acquittal, Griffith’s legal troubles may not be over. Prosecutors in Oklahoma previously dropped murder charges in his father’s case, citing a lack of evidence to disprove his self-defense claim. However as reported by KOCO News 5, in light of his mother’s death, authorities are reportedly reevaluating the circumstances surrounding the 2023 shooting of Charles Griffith.
With his release from custody imminent, Griffith’s future remains uncertain. While his legal team has called for public restraint and due process, law enforcement officials continue to investigate. As this case continues to unfold, it raises broader discussions about juvenile justice, self-defense claims, and the complexity of family dynamics in criminal cases. For a detailed Trial Timeline, visit CourtTV.
