FL v. Collin Griffith: Deadly Son Murder Trial

Collin Griffith, 17, was acquitted on charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his mom, Catherine Griffith on Sept. 8, 2024. Collin’s lawyers informed the jury he acted in self-defense the day his mom passed away and informed 911 dispatchers that his mom”fell on a knife”throughout a”long combat. “Throughout closing arguments, Collin’s lawyers recommended that Catherine”dedicated suicide by kid.”

Collin remained in the custody of his mom, who resides in southwest Florida, at the time of the murder, however had actually left to his grandma’s home in main Florida after an argument over tasks. District attorneys state Catherine went to get her kid to bring him home on Sept. 8, and within 30 minutes of her arrival witnesses stated they saw Collin dragging her by her hair.

Collin was formerly jailed on charges of domestic violence in Nov. 2023 for an occurrence with his mom. At that time, a cops recording caught him informing his grandma and deputies that he did not wish to be gone back to his mom’s custody. “I’m in a continuous state of battle or flight,” Collin informed deputies at the time. “If I believe she’s going to do something, even if she’s not, I may act. I’m not going to, like, go bananas or anything, however I’m uncertain, truthfully.”

Eighteen months before his mom’s death, Collin was charged with first-degree murder after shooting his daddy to death in Oklahoma. District attorneys dropped the charges less than a month later on, stating they “might not negate Collin’s assertion of self-defense.” District attorneys in Florida indicated texts they stated revealed Catherine was threatening to expose that Collin had actually not acted in self-defense because case. While the jury will heard that Collin shot and eliminated somebody in self-defense, the judge ruled that they might not hear the victim’s name or discover that he was the offender’s daddy.

EVERYDAY TRIAL UPDATES

DAY 6– 2/5/25

• A Florida jury discovered Collin Griffith NOT GUILTY of murder in the stabbing death of his mom, Catherine Griffith, who was eliminated 18 months after Collin eliminated his dad.
  • VIEW: Deadly Son Murder Trial: Watch the Verdict!
  • ENJOY: Collin Griffith Walks out of Jail After Being Processed and Released

DAY 5– 2/4/25

• In their closing argument, district attorneys concentrated on Collin Griffith’s hatred for his mom and her ruthless murder. Griffith is standing trial for stabbing death of Cathy Griffith.
  • VIEW: State: Cathy Griffith Left This World Knowing Her Son ‘Butchered Her’
• In their closing argument, Collin Griffith’s defense asks the jury if it’s sensible that Cathy Griffith understood the result when she supposedly got a knife and threatened her child. The defense argues Collin acted in self-defense.
  • ENJOY: Collin Griffith’s Defense: Reasonable Cathy Committed ‘Suicide By Son’?

DAY 4– 2/3/25

• The state rests their case-in-chief.
• Susan Dethman (mom of victim Cathy Griffith and grandma of Collin Griffith) takes the stand.
  • States that in January 2024 there was a time Collin stuck with her for weeks and Cathy forgot where Collin was.
  • Informs the jury about several circumstances in which Cathy supposedly tried suicide.
  • Relays how Cathy typically ended up being separated from relative, occasionally cut them out of their life, stopped speaking with them, and so on.
  • Remembers several circumstances of Cathy’s expected history of informing lies.
    • ENJOY: Collin Griffith’s Grandmother Says Victim Had History of Lying
  • Claims Cathy was violent to Collin: Beat him with a belt, made him do pushups, held a weight over his head while he ran in location.
  • States Cathy when handed Collin a weapon and advised him to eliminate her.
  • States Cathy grumbled about needing to get up early to bring Collin to school.
  • On cross, was questioned about why she wasn’t more scared of Collin– given that he ‘d currently eliminated and been violent in the past.
  • States she speaks with Collin in prison on the phone 3X a week: She motivates him to pear and check out the Bible; and she encourages him on consuming practices (she’s a diet professional).
  • Confesses she likes her grand son and does not wish to see him go to jail– she thinks he did NOT murder Cathy.
  • Susan is questioned about the reality that Cathy was fertilized at the age of 13.
  • Charged of being “fast to toss dirt” on her “dead child.”
    • SEE: Attorney: ‘You’re Really Quick To Throw Dirt on Your Dead Daughter’
  • Confesses that when Collin coped with his daddy, he wished to deal with his mommy, which his mama wished to enhance her kid’s life and mored than happy that he wished to cope with her since she seemed like she ‘d lost out on years of his life.
  • Remembers a supper discussion in which Cathy threatened to remove Collin’s XBox and phone, and how Collin snapped and wished to combat Cathy.
  • Confesses Collin took a little blade kitchen area knife from her home, however states he informed her he required it. States that later on that exact same day, Cathy informed her she feared for her security.
• After calling Collin’s granny to the stand, the defense rests its case.
• Closing arguments are set up for Tuesday, Feb. 4.

DAY 3– 1/31/25

• Dr. David Garavan, medical inspector and forensic pathologist takes the witness stand.
  • Deascribes Cathy’s neck injury as: Large, open, most likely originated from a single blade.
  • States the knife went through her esophagus, wind pipeline, singing chord, and came out on the other side.
  • States of all the knife/stabbing deaths he’s taken a look at, a lot of were murders, some were mishaps, NONE were suicides.
  • Categorizes Cathy’s way of death as murder, significance: Wound was caused by another individual, injury is NOT constant with somebody falling on a knife.
  • Judge discusses to Dr. Garavan that he can’t discuss Collin’s daddy’s death. Lawyers aren’t even going to inform the jury his father is dead, or that he was eliminated, or that Collin had anything to do with it. Clarifies that if witness breaches this order, he might be imprisoned or fined, and a mistrial may be stated.
  • Judge advises witness to listen thoroughly, do not provide viewpoints, and ONLY response what’s asked.
• Robert Walantas, dad of the victim (Cathy) and grandpa of the offender (Collin), takes the stand.
  • Remembered Collin ending up being exacerbated with his mother and grandmother, remembered his grand son stating something like: I’m sick of these 2 bitches/want to see them bleed out.
  • States Cathy informed him that Collin threatened her and her mommy (Collin’s grandmother) with eliminating them; however preserved she still desired a relationship with her boy and to have him home.
    • ENJOY: Collin Griffith’s Grandfather: He Said, ‘I Want to Slit Her Throat’
• Det. Danny Peters is remembered to the stand as text in between Collin and Cathy are shown.
  • Checks out messages aloud, such as: you stated you disliked me and I was a wicked bitch– my father is sending out the recording of you preparing my murder– best of luck employing an excellent legal representative.
  • Texts from Cathy to Collin stated features of closing down his phone, canceling his vehicle insurance coverage, offering his automobile, pulling him out of school.
  • States among the last things on the Ring webcam before Cathy’s death was her informing Collin to either get in the cars and truck and follow her or she was going to call the police officers.
    • ENJOY: Jury Views Ring Video From the Day Before Cathy Griffith’s Death
  • On cross, Peters states that Cathy didn’t follow through on dangers like getting the automobile pulled, and so on.
  • Is questioned about Ring video in which Cathy states she cut her own hand attempting to open a container.
  • Defense recommends that possibly the chatter about murder was from a computer game like Roblox.

DAY 2– 1/30/25

• Forensic detective Brandy Bange explained Collin’s temperament as emotionless for the whole 20-30 minutes she invested with him.
  • Bange photographed Collin, swabbed blood on him. Said he had no protective injuries on his hands.Sgt. Michael Schneider remembered being dispatched to a crisis system at a behavioral center to aid with the release of a possibly violent client. That client was Collin.
  • Said Collin approached him and stated: “I require to be Baker Acted.” When the Sgt. asked why, Collin stated either he will eliminate himself or his mom.
    • VIEW: ‘He Was Emotionless’: Investigator Describes Collin Griffith
• Deputy Alexander Sharp affirmed about can be found in contact with Collin, his mom, and his granny.
  • Explained Collin as calm, stated his mother appeared worried, peaceful, and frightened of her child. She had injuries that were recorded and photographed that included soreness and bruising on her stomach– Collin had actually obviously kneed his mother and kicked her with a shoe.
  • Mommy informed Schneider that Collin was dissatisfied due to the fact that she was removing his X-Box and phone
  • Said that Collin informed him his mother punched him. He stated his mother punched him in the face however there was no inflammation or bruising. Collin stated he protected himself by kneeing Cathy (his mother) and knocking her to ground.
• Deputy Keri Welch informed the jury that Collin had actually made declarations about damaging his mama and grandmother, that he had actually done it before and would do it once again; he recommended he may press them out of an automobile, stab them or shoot them.
  • She put Collin back under the Baker Act.
  • Clarified that YES: when Collin stated he had done it in the past, he was describing the truth that he had eliminated before and could once again?
  • On cross, affirmed that Collin stated he felt risky in the house and wanted to remain at the Baker Act center.
• Det. Lacey Venoniani stated she heard Collin state on numerous events that he ‘d hurt, injure or eliminate his mommy.
  • Confessed that Cathy was often too soft on Collin; however it was clear Cathy liked her kid and wanted to accept her fate if it implied she might invest more time with him.
  • DCF ultimately returned Collin to his mommy and Det. Venoniani stated if it depended on her, she ‘d have separated them. She did not believe mom and boy ought to cohabit.
  • Collin informed the investigator that he ‘d rather remain in prison, a psych ward, or foster care than with Cathy.
  • The investigator was close with Cathy and understood she had actually threatened and tried suicide in the past. She likewise understood that Cathy’s ex was violent towards her.
  • Said Collin was manipulative, yet considerate to his grandmother and anybody who purchased him things.
  • Det. Venoniani stated Collin got furious when he was informed “no,” which he enjoyed that Cathy took him on cruises, purchased him endless Starbucks, purchased him computer game, a cellular phone, and so on. He ‘d get furious if she asked him to do tasks like take out the garbage.
  • Corporal Joella Moore stated that Collin had actually spoken with her about having various personalities: Collin 1 and Collin 2: Collin 1 simply wishes to endure. Collin 2 secures him and eliminates for him.
  • Said she heard Collin state that state Collin 1 would let him eliminate his mommy.
• Det. Danny Peters remembered a voice message Cathy had actually sent out Collin which stated something like: I put your Starbucks outside due to the fact that you tossed a tantrum.
  • Said that they had actually argued due to the fact that Cathy desired aid hanging something in your house.

DAY 1– 1/29/25

• Ahead of opening declarations, the accused asked to be excused from the courtroom throughout the playing of the 911 call.
  • SEE: Collin Griffith Asks To Be Excused From Courtroom During 911 Call
• In their opening declaration, district attorneys stated Collin Griffith stabbed his mom, Cathy Griffith, with such force that the knife went through her neck and out the opposite, eliminating her.
  • VIEW: Prosecutor: Collin Griffith ‘Viciously And Savagely’ Killed his Mother
• District attorney Mark Levine information Collin’s domestic violence history and having a hard time relationship with his mom.
• Text messages expose Cathy had digital proof of Collin threatening to damage her and declarations relating to the death of his daddy.
• Public protector Amy Thornhill informs the jury that Cathy was “unforeseeable, unpredictable” and entered into “raves”
  • SEE: Defense: Collin Griffith’s Mother Was ‘Unpredictable’ And ‘Erratic’
• Next-door neighbor Nancy Jones affirmed about seeing Collin and Cathy combating soon before she was eliminated.
  • ENJOY: Neighbor Describes Seeing Catherine Griffith Pulled By Her Hair
• In Collin’s 911 call, he informs a dispatcher his mom was injured after falling on a knife.
  • SEE: 911 Call: Collin Griffith Says His Mother Fell Onto Knife