Fla. teen stabs grandmother over 90 times, killed her to upset uncle, cops say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Jasper Aristotle Smiddie

(Credit: CBS Tampa)

(CBS/AP) LAKE WALES, Fla. - Police say a central Florida teen stabbed his grandmother more than 90 times, struck her in the face with a wrench, and then shot her 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.

According to authorities, Smiddie's father contacted authorities Tuesday. He said Smiddie had called him and confessed to killing 67-year-old Gloria Helfrich. Smiddie lived with his grandmother in a Lake Wales home. This is where deputies found the body.

CBS affiliate WTSP reports that according to authorities, Smiddie even ate dinner and watched movies with his uncle that night, with his grandmother dead in her room. The uncle thought she was at work, since she usually works overnight.

Authorities say Smiddie didn't like his uncle and was planning to kill him, but instead decided to kill his mother, Smiddie's grandmother, to inflict more pain on him.

Fox News reports Sheriff Grady Judd said, "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."

Smiddie was arrested after he was spotted near his girlfriend's home.

29 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 29 Comments


by DidHeSayThat February 13, 2012 1:11 PM EST: There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON this young man needs to breath the same oxygen as the rest of humanity.

There are some "people" who just need to move on to their next life because they are not worthy of even a second chance.

This little twerp is an example.; Reply to this comment


by Bojax39 February 10, 2012 5:36 PM EST: "Authorities say Smiddie didn't like his uncle and was planning to kill him, but instead decided to kill his mother, Smiddie's grandmother, to inflict more pain on him."

More likely the little bastard didn't have the stones to attack somebody he thought could fight back.; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey February 10, 2012 1:15 AM EST: [Authorities say Smiddie didn't like his uncle and was planning to kill him, but instead decided to kill his mother, Smiddie's grandmother, to inflict more pain on him.]
---------------------------------------
jasper smiddle?

really ... jasper smiddle?; Reply to this comment


by FACEITT February 10, 2012 12:50 AM EST: The article is trying to put the emphasis on this killer being a teenager @ 19 years old. $2 million dollar bet, this white MAN will NOT be tried in JUVENILE COURT. He is an adult and will be tried as one. First degree murder should get him a hot needle in the arm. Too bad they can't puncture him over 90 times.; Reply to this comment


by FACEITT February 9, 2012 11:42 PM EST: Hay, where are all you racist SOB's who always blame every crime committed on Black people. Aint' nothing black about these white monsters listed below and all these crimes done in the space of a couple of days. What's wrong with you? Don't you want to continue your racial slurs and direct them towards these people? Just goes to show you, evil, killings,crimes know no particular color or lack of it, knows no gender, age, reasoning. So the next time you go to make a racial slur about a Black or Hispanic person, read the papers first. You'll be surprised how many people one white person can kill in one day or a week. So let's stop this stupid race blaming crap. People are evil no matter what color they are and killers will kill, no matter what.

-alyssa-bustamante-called-killing-9-year-old-enjoyable-then-went-to-church/
-Josh Powell kills self/children and probably his wife, too.
-Man kills couple because they deleted his daughter as a friend on Facebook
-Fla man burned trying to set hiw own wife on fire; Reply to this comment


by frenius66 February 9, 2012 10:58 PM EST: This is an ANIMAL. No chemical imbalance. I bet he doesn't get the death penalty...Him, Casey Anthony and the Croslins. All nasty double wide trash.; Reply to this comment

by notredamegirl77 February 9, 2012 10:51 PM EST

If this was a black guy or another minority who did this, the whole thread would be filled with racist comments! When a white kid kills, he is considered mentally ill. Send this monster to DR ASAP!!!!

Reply to this comment


by FACEITT February 10, 2012 12:20 AM EST: You are so right. In fact, for those racists that love to rag on minorities (be glad when 2025 comes,then we'll see who the minority really is), take a look below at the headlines of the girl who killed a 9 year old for fun..white. Man burns himself while trying to set wife on fire..white. Man blows up self and 2 kids..white. In fact for every 1 person a minority murders, 1 white person kills 4. You do the math as to which one is more lethal. The point is we all need to stop pointing how which race did what and insist on more stringent laws to punish people. For instance, the media is calling this man a teenager, as tho he was 13 or even 16. This is a grown man people, a murdering, vicious grown man and already excuses are being made for him. Mental illness? NO! Evil? Yes. Drugs responsible? NO. Abused as a child? NO. He was bullied? NO. Death Penalty? Yes.


by DidHeSayThat February 13, 2012 1:12 PM EST: You ignorant!

by sanfran1 February 9, 2012 9:58 PM EST

I wonder if this teen was using drugs, prescription or otherwise...would be interesting to know.

Reply to this comment


by FACEITT February 10, 2012 12:25 AM EST: Why? Certain killers in our society are always giving the excuse they were on Meth or some other drug and that's what caused them to do it. Doesn't matter, they made the choice to take drugs and they made the choice to kill. Now it's up to society to make the final choices for these people.

by IEtOut February 9, 2012 8:43 PM EST

Well, she is the reason he is alive. She has nobody to blame but herself.

Reply to this comment


by FACEITT February 10, 2012 12:26 AM EST: Who is "she" and what are you talking about?


by noloyalisti February 9, 2012 5:56 PM EST: Is it my imagination or are we seeing more and more young mentally ill people? This does not bode well for America into the future unless we get back to funding public education, create jobs by getting Wall Street corporations out of politics and provide universal health care for all.; Reply to this comment