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Murder case in Florida could reopen self-defense trial in Oklahoma

BUT SOME DOUBT IT. EVAN AND ABBY, THIS IS PART OF THIS AFFIDATE FOR THE 2023 LINCOLN COUNTY MURDER CASE. COLLIN GRIFFITH WAS JUST 15 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. THE LINCOLN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE CASE FOR SELF-DEFENSE THEN. BUT WITH NEW EVIDENCE, HE COULD LOOK AT THIS CASE AGAIN AND DETERMINE IF IT WAS REALLY MURDER. HE USED EXTERMINATIONS LIKE WHEN HE CALLED 911, WHAT, 18 OR 20 MONTHS EARLIER, WHEN HE SHOT AND KILLED HIS FATHER? THE SHERIFF OF POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA, DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT 17-YEAR-OLD COLLIN GRIFFITH WAS FORCED TO KILL HIS MOTHER OUT OF NECESSITY. THE 17-YEAR-OLD IS FATALLY CHARGED WITH MURDER AND KIDNAPPING. IN THIS CASE, WE ASKED THE LINCOLN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IF THIS NECESSITY CASE IS STILL OPEN BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THIS CASE AND THE SHOOTING IN STROUD LAST YEAR WHICH KILLED GRIFFITH'S FATHER. ADAM PAINTER SAYS INVESTIGATORS WENT TO THE HOUSE WHERE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED LAST FEBRUARY AND FOUND ACTUAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTING GRIFFITH'S STORY THAT HIS FATHER CORNERED HIM WITH A KNIFE AND HIS ONLY CHOICE WAS TO SHOOT HIM. OSB CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THE CASE AND COULD NOT RULE OUT SELF-DEFENSE, SO CHARGES WERE NEVER FILED. BUT PAINTER SAYS THE CASE IS NOT CLOSED AND IF SOMEONE PRESENTS RELEVANT AND CREDIBLE EVIDENCE TO HIS OFFICE IT WOULD LEAD TO A RE-EVALUATION OF THE CASE. AND WE HAVE TALKED TO THE AUTHORITIES IN FLORIDA, WHO SAY CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THE 17-YEAR-OLD THERE. They say that right now they are waiting to see if he can be tried as an adult. And as for Oklahoma, Osbi told me that they have not yet been asked by Lincoln County to reopen the case.

Florida murder case could reopen self-defense shooting case in Lincoln County

Collin Griffth shot his father in Stroud last year. He is now accused of killing his mother in Florida.

How will a Florida murder case affect an Oklahoma investigation? Collin Griffith shot and killed his father in Stroud last year. He has now been charged with killing his mother in Florida. In 2023, Griffith shot his father, but he had “a legitimate case of self-defense,” according to Lincoln County court documents. He was only 15 at the time of his father's death. Now, some people are questioning whether it was truly a case of self-defense. If he gets new evidence, the Lincoln County district attorney said, he can take another look at the case and determine if it was actually murder and not self-defense. “He used similar language to what he used on his 911 call about 18 or 20 months earlier when he shot his father,” said Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida. The sheriff said he does not believe Griffith was forced to kill his mother in self-defense. He was charged with murder and kidnapping in the case. Because of the similarities between the Florida case and last year's shooting in Stroud, Lincoln County District Attorney Adam Panter weighed in on the situation. He said the investigation found physical evidence that backed up Griffith's story that his father cornered him with a knife and he had no choice but to shoot him. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation “could not determine our act was self-defense,” so no charges were ever filed. >> Download the KOCO 5 app But Panter said the case is not closed. If someone presents relevant and credible evidence to his office, it could lead to a re-evaluation of the case. Florida officials confirmed that charges have been filed against the 17-year-old. The state will decide whether to try him as an adult. The OSBI has not yet been asked by Lincoln County to reopen the investigation. Top headlines: What you need to know about the 2024 Oklahoma State Fair before you visit. Teen accused of murdering his mother in Florida, one year after killing his father in Oklahoma. Motorcyclist dies in crash in southwest Oklahoma City. 2 teens die when their car crashes into tree and fence in Edmond Rossen over the weekend. Reports: Severe weather emergency; can you afford home damage?

What impact will a murder case in Florida have on an investigation in Oklahoma?

Collin Griffith shot his father in Stroud last year. He has now been charged with the murder of his mother in Florida.

In 2023, Griffith shot his father, but according to Lincoln County court documents, he had “a legitimate case of self-defense.” He was only 15 years old at the time of his father's death.

Now some people doubt whether this was really a case of self-defense.

If he receives new evidence, he can re-examine the case, said the Lincoln County district attorney, and then decide whether it was actually murder and not self-defense.

“He used similar language to the 911 call he made about 18 or 20 months ago when he shot his father,” said Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida.

The sheriff said he does not believe Griffith was forced to kill his mother in self-defense. He was charged with murder and kidnapping in that case.

Because of the similarities between the Florida case and last year's shooting in Stroud, Lincoln County District Attorney Adam Panter commented on the situation.

He said the investigation uncovered physical evidence supporting Griffith's statement that his father had cornered him with a knife and he had no choice but to shoot him.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation could not rule out “our” self-defense, so no charges were ever filed.

>> Download the KOCO 5 app

However, Panter said the case is not closed and if someone presents relevant and credible evidence to his office, it could lead to a re-evaluation of the case.

Florida authorities confirmed that charges have been filed against the 17-year-old. The state will decide whether to try him as an adult.

The OSBI has not yet been asked by Lincoln County to reopen the investigation.

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