Crime Alert 5PM 09.25.24| Collin Griffith Killed Dad. Will He Get Away With Killing Mom?

Polk County, Florida deputies find 39-year-old Catherine Griffith dead in her home, with her 17-year-old son, Collin, claiming she accidentally "fell on a knife" after a long argument. Investigators suspect foul play, uncovering a history of violence, including Collin’s previous killing of his father, which he claimed was in self-defense.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alard, hourly update, Breaking crime news Now.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Drew Nelson. Polk County Sheriff's deputies respond to a
horrifying scene in Auburndale, Florida. Inside a mobile home, thirty
nine year old Katherine Griffith lies face down with a
kitchen knife through her neck. Her son, seventeen year old
Colin Griffith, is calm standing outside when deputies arrive. He
tells them that after a long fight, his mother quote
falls on the knife, but investigators believe the truth is

(00:26):
far more sinister. Catherine Griffith is dead and Colin is
their prime suspect. The tragedy caps a long and troubled
relationship between Colin and his mother three years earlier, as
Catherine flees from her marriage, she alleges abuse from Colin's father,
Charles Griffith. The couple fights bitterly over custody, but ultimately
Colin is sent to live with his father in Oklahoma.

(00:47):
In February of twenty three, Colin calls nine to one
one as he claims he shoots his father in self
defense after Charles chases him with a knife. With his
father dead, Colin is sent to live with Catherine and
Florida Crime Onlines Dave Mack reports.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
Colin's alleged abuse at the hands of his father, Charles
Griffith comes to a head on Valentine's Day. Colin calls
nine to one one to report he shot and killed
his father. Colin tells the operator his dad attacked him,
chasing him through their home with a knife. Colin says
when Charles corners him in a bedroom, Colin grabs a
shotgun and shoots his father in self defense. Colin is
too shaken up to give another statement, but based on

(01:22):
the evidence in the home and colin zime won one call,
investigators cannot rule out self defense. Colin is sent to
live with his mother in Florida.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
From the outside, life seems to improve for Colin and
his mother. Social media posts painted picture of his family
vacations and milestones like Colin's early graduation and buying his
first car. But behind the scenes, Colin struggles with his
mental health and one outburst, he is Baker acted of
Florida law that allows for involuntary mental health examination. After

(01:51):
a short time, Colin is released back to his mother's care.
Sheriff Grady ju explains the unraveling of the situation.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
When he came to live with his mother, Katherine Griffith,
who was thirty nine. You would think things would be better.
He would be really, really lucky that, hey, this was
a self defense and I'm here with mom. But six
months later, six months later, guess what happened. He's Bakerackett
the rest of Colin's story.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
After this, tensions continue to escalate in the Griffith home.
In November of twenty twenty three, Colin attacks his mother
after she takes away his video game privileges. He's charged
with domestic violence, but a year of probation seems to

(02:39):
settle things for a while. Catherine confides in neighbors about
her exhaustion with trying to help her son, but she
still works to them in their relationship. Things have come
to a head this month, as Colin flees his mother's
home after another argument, retreating to his grandmother's house. When
Catherine comes to bring him home, witnesses see Colin dragging
her inside by her hair. Hours later, debut He's arrived

(03:00):
to find Catherine dead. Crime Online s Dave Mack reports.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
After several failed attempts to get Colin home, Catherine Griffith
confides in a neighbor how exhausted she is trying to
help her son. Catherine tells that she's cleared out Colin's
room and that he's not allowed back into the home
without her. The neighbor tries to convince Colin to come
home herself, but Colin ignores her too. Catherine says she's
going to meet Colin at his grandmother's home tomorrow as

(03:25):
a last ditch effort to bring him home before he
misses a probation meeting. After that, he'll have to answer
to law enforcement.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Deputies find Colin covered in blood, claiming his mother quote unquote,
falls on the knife, but evidence tells a different story.
Sheriff Judd elaborates.

Speaker 1 (03:40):
When the deputies arrived, he met the deputies outside and
he was calm, cool, collected, not upset, and he had
blood on him. And he didn't say, mom's in here,
Mom's bleeding to death. Mom needs help. He looked the
deputy in the eye and says, I know my rights.
I want an attorney. What we found inside was this knife.

(04:04):
This knife is twelve inches long, and of the twelve inches,
eight inches of that hit is the blame. So he's
saying that his mother fell on this knife.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
The medical examiner confirms that Catherine's injuries are not consistent
with Colin's story. Investigators believe this is the culmination of
a history of violence and instability. At just seventeen years old,
Colin has allegedly killed both of his parents, and while
he previously escapes legal consequences for his father's death, this
time it seems unlikely he will walk free. For the
latest on the investigation, tune in two Crime Stories with

(04:38):
Nancy Grace six and nine pm Eastern on Doctor Phil's
Merritt Street Media, or find Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
wherever you get your podcasts. For the latest crime and
justice news, follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your
favorite podcast app with a strime Alert. I'm Drew Nelson.