POLK COUNTY, Fla. (Scripps News Tampa) — A pre-med student at the University of Florida is accused of murdering his mother, who was a second-grade teacher.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a press conference that 21-year-old Emmanuel Espinoza was driving in for a family event on Saturday and asked his mom if he could stay with her. She agreed.
Emmanuel Espinoza (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
Sheriff Judd said, “He knocked on the front door, and when mom opened the door, he began to stab her and he stabbed her many times. She ran from him. She was talking to a family member on the phone. And in addition to that, he stabbed her until she fell down and died.”
When police talked to Emmanuel, he said he had wanted to kill his mother for many years because she “got on his nerves,” according to Sheriff Judd.
Emmanuel’s mother, 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza was a second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School in Frostproof. Elvia previously worked as a secretary at Frostproof Middle-Senior.
Emmanuel called 911 after the stabbing, confessed to killing his mother, and was arrested. Jail records indicate he’s charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
This story was originally published by Scripps News Tampa, an E.W. Scripps Company.
