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Fla. man allegedly stabs grandmother to death in bathtub

Christopher Chase Whaley, 23 CBS/WTSP

(CBS/AP/WTSP) LAKE WALES, Fla. - Christopher Chase Whaley, a 23-year-old Florida man,  has been charged with first degree murder for allegedly stabbing his grandmother to death in her bathtub.

The arrest affidavit for Whaley states he told detectives he thought about killing his 69-year-old grandmother, Barbara Denmark, and his aunt after an argument Saturday. Whaley had been living with his grandmother in her mobile home at the time.

Reports say Whaley grabbed two knives from the kitchen and stabbed Denmark repeatedly while she bathed.

CBS affiliate WTSP reports Denmark's last words, according to a confession from Whaley, were, "I love you."

Whaley's arrest affidavit says those words stopped him from carrying out the rest of his alleged plan: going down the street to his aunt's home and killing everyone inside.

Instead, Whaley was the one who called 911 to turn himself in. When the dispatcher picked up the phone, he supposedly said, "Come get me." Then, he hung up.

When the dispatcher returned that call, according to the affidavit, Whaley said, "You have two minutes to find me."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says when deputies arrived, Whaley was cradling his grandmother in his arms.

A sheriff's office report says Whaley was scheduled to have a first court appearance Sunday. He is currently being held without bond.


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