Misc. Cases II

[Lady Cop]

stunning. even for florida. he'll get death unless he's shown to be absolutely insane.
drugs?
abuse by uncle?
overkill indeed.

(note: i adore Sheriff Judd. )






Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announces that Jasper Smiddie,19, was arrested and is suspected of killing of his grandmother, Gloria Helfrich, during a press conference at the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Winter Haven on Wednesday.



February 09, 2012 | FoxNews.com

Jasper Aristotle Smiddie, 19, allegedly stabbed his grandmother, 67-year-old Gloria Helfrich, 93 times, hitting her with a wrench and then shooting her with a crossbow.

Authorities say Smiddie decided to kill his grandmother to make his uncle suffer. They say he originally plotted to kill his uncle, but decided to kill Helfrich instead.

"He decided, 'Well, I'll kill my grandmother instead so that my uncle has to live with the death of his mother for the rest of his life,' " Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff's Department said.

Authorities say they do not know why the teen hated his uncle so vehemently.

Police say Smiddie killed his grandmother in her bedroom in the home they shared. Then, in a bizarre twist. he locked the door and waited for his uncle to get home. The teen then ate dinner and watched television with his uncle, who had no idea his mother lay dead in her bedroom.

Smiddie left the home in the morning, then reportedly called his father in Tampa and told him what he had done. His father called the police, and directed them to the woman's body.

Smiddie was arrested near his girlfriend's home and charged with first-degree murder.
The case came to light after Smiddie contacted his father, who lives in Tampa, around 7:40 Tuesday morning to tell him he killed Helfrich, Judd said.

Smiddie told his father he stabbed Helfrich multiple times, and said he would drive to Tampa to turn himself in -- but never showed up.

Smiddie's father called police, and deputies went to Helfrich's home in Lake Wales to check on her.

They were greeted by Helfrich's son Dustin, who said he thought Helfrich was at work. Deputies busted into Helfrich's bedroom, and found her body.

Judd said Dustin was "shocked beyond belief."

According to Judd, Helfrich had been shot in the head with a crossbow, stabbed 93 times, and beaten with a pipe wrench.

Judd said Smiddie was living with his grandmother because he was no longer welcome at his parents' house, and his grandmother was the only one who would take him in.

"She was rewarded by being brutally murdered by Jasper," Judd said.










there is virtually a news blackout in this case.

ARRAIGNMENT SCHEDULED FORM MARCH 6^TH AT 8:15AM, NO OTHER COURT PROCEEDINGS OR FILINGS ON THE CASE.