Grady Judd Details Violent Murder of Elderly Man at Bartow Group Home

Violent Murder Investigation

• 🚨 A 911 call Sunday afternoon led Bartow Police to an independent living facility where they discovered an 81-year-old man who had died a violent death.
• 🔪 Upon initial examination, officers found the victim had been stabbed to death, with evidence of defensive wounds.

Suspect and Motive

• 👤 The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Moses O'hita, was taken into custody.
• 🗣️ O'hita confessed to stabbing the victim 113 times, claiming voices in his head told him to kill the sleeping victim.
• 🔪 He stated the knife was not sharp, contributing to the large number of wounds.
• 🧠 O'hita has a history of mental health issues, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, autism, and anxiety, and had been Baker Acted six times previously.

Circumstances of the Crime

• 🏠 O'hita was recently released from a Baker Act facility and sent to the independent living home, ET Home Care, just five hours before the murder.
• ⚠️ Despite his mother's warning to hide knives, O'hita found them and committed the act.
• 🧼 After the murder, O'hita washed the knife and himself, cleaned up, and replaced the knife in the butcher block before going to his room.

Facility and Victim Details

• 🏡 The victim was a resident of the independent living facility, ET Home Care, owned by Adrina Thornton.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The facility houses independent individuals who may not have immediate family or spouses.
• ⚠️ The owners had decided to send O'hita back to his mother due to his behavior, even before discovering the murder.

Legal and Mental Health Considerations

• ⚖️ While O'hita has clear mental health issues, Sheriff Judd emphasized his criminal intent and culpability, noting his efforts to hide evidence.
• 🏥 The fact that O'hita stayed in a Baker Act facility for nearly two weeks indicated a substantial need for help.
• ❓ The investigation is ongoing, with questions about state regulation of independent living facilities and potential liability.