LAKE WALES, Fla. (AP) _ Authorities say a central Florida teen killed his grandmother, who was found stabbed nearly 100 times, struck in the face with a wrench and shot in the head with a crossbow.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports that 19-year-old Jasper Aristotle Smiddie was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with first-degree murder.
Authorities say Smiddie’s father contacted authorities Tuesday.
The father said Smiddie had called him and confessed to killing 67-year-old Gloria Helfrich.
Smiddie lived with his grandmother in a Lake Wales home, where deputies found the body.
Smiddie was arrested in Highlands County after he was spotted near his girlfriend’s home.
A motive for the slaying wasn’t immediately clear, but it has been reported that he wanted to hurt his Uncle, who also lived with Helfrich and Smiddie.
