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Todd Mcinturf / The Detroit News via AP
Sandra Layne is shackled after she was convicted Tuesday, March 19, in Pontiac, Mich., of second-degree murder in the shooting death of her grandson last year.
A 75-year-old Michigan woman was convicted of second-degree murder charges Tuesday for shooting her 17-year-old grandson to death last year.
Sandra Layne of West Bloomfield, northwest of Detroit, was held without bond pending a sentencing hearing April 18, NBC station WDIV of Detroit reported.
In addition to the murder charge, Layne was also convicted of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting. Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper told WDIV that Layne was likely to face 12 to 20 years in prison for the murder conviction, plus two years for the firearms violation.
Jurors were given the option of deciding whether Layne committed first-degree murder, but they chose the lesser charge.
The death of Layne's grandson, Jonathan Hoffman, on May 18, 2012, made national headlines after it was disclosed that he was shot in the chest multiple times as he was calling 911.
Jurors were played audio of the 911 calls, in which Jonathan frantically told a dispatcher that he had been shot by his grandmother and was going to die. Although investigators previously said they found eight entry and exit wounds in his body, prosecutors said Monday during closing arguments that he was actually shot 10 times.
Layne, who took the stand and admitted having shot Jonathan, said she had bought a gun to protect herself because her grandson sometimes brought strangers home late at night to the condominium unit they shared. She said she felt threatened and shot Jonathan in self-defense after he demanded her car and $2,000 so he could leave the state.
Jonathan's parents are divorced, and his father has previously said his son was living with his maternal grandparents while he finished classes at an alternative high school in nearby Farmington.
Jerome Sabota, Layne's attorney, told jurors in closing arguments Monday that Jonathan had a violent temper and that he used synthetic marijuana.
"Think about somebody that's 73 or 74 and this behavior is occurring in her presence," Sabota said. "She was in hysteria. She was afraid and reacted to his physical attack. That's why killed him. That's why she shot."
But Assistant County Prosecutor Paul Walton said in his closing arguments that Layne never complained of injuries and told police when they arrived at the home that she had killed her grandson.
"The first thing that she says to (the police officers) is, 'I murdered my grandson,'" Walton said.
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WOW my grandma just gave us cake when we were good....and if we were bad a threat of a big leather belt....
If only more grandparents did the same thing maybe society would not be collapsing. Honesty, integrity, RESPECT are all something "elders" know and rely on. Kids these days have none of these traits and it shows in the crime rate. I feel sorry for this woman, she was put in a situation (by her kid) that she was not able to control. Now the state will have to take care of this woman in prison, a place she never thought she would ever see. Her POS X grandson is gone.....good riddance, I hope her child and x husband realize what they have done.
Ray, you are a mentally ill. You think more grandparents should shoot their grandkids. Please find a good psychiatrist and get the help you need.
This kid had never committed an act of violence. He got jacked up one time and was behaving erratically outside of the house when the police came. There is zero evidence he ever did anything wrong to his grandmother and that's what the jury heard in court and that's why she was convicted. That and the fact he called 911 on his mentally ill grandmother and it could be heard over the phone he was pleading for his life.
There's a lot of people posting on here that sympathize with the murdering granny and I hope they don't have any kids. Too many people are incompetent in dealing with teens but I guess that's their answer now, shoot to kill. The vast majority of teens bad behavior is directly attributed to the parents ineptitude of dealing with them.
Here's a thought : She could have given him $2000 and the keys to her car. He'd have booked. Then she could call the police and let the law deal with him.
But no, in this gun, violence, and control driven society, she murdered him. I don't think it gets much sicker.
In most states if she gives him the keys,even under a threat the cops say thier hands are tied, but killing your grandson, that's just stupid and sad... She should have locked him out as soon as she thought there was a problem, or here's an idea, don't let him in to begin with.
Ray are you really as dumb as you sound?
Roodles, you OBVIOUSLY do not have a child who is on drugs; has knocked you to the ground in a fit of rage; robbed you blind (not to mention your neighbors); made you embarassed to even look a neighbor in the eye; spent most of their life in juvi (starting at 12 yrs. of age), etc., etc., . Until you (REPEAT, until YOU have walked a mile in OUR SHOES) SHUT THE @!$%# UP YOU STUPID ASS @!$%#!! You have NO IDEA what it is like!!\
PLEEEEEEEAE RESPOND!! I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO SHARE WITH YOU, AND CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! In fact, I have 19 YEARS EXPERIENCE TO SHARE WITH YOU!!!!!!
Momma, you OBVIOUSLY are a lousy parent.
Maybe, but is she a good shot?
heatherk9
you obviously are not a parent of a druggy, so you too, shut the @!$%# up until you have walked a mile in our shoes!!
jkatze, exactly what I was thinking. After she called the police with description of her car & license number & what had happened, he'd be lucky if he got a few house past his Granny's house befor being pulled over. I think Granny's the one with a mental problem. I have 3 grandsons, ages 19, 23, & 34 who have had their share of problems but are basically good guys who've never harmed anone & are doing well. But under no cercumstances could I ever even dream of harming them in any way. That young never had a chance to beome the decent person he would probably have become in a couple years with a little love & understaning that we all need during an uncertain time like in our life . None of us were perfect or made the right decisions every time when we were that young. And who knows if he really told her he wanted money & her car? And that he'd kill her if she didn't comply?
People bashing the Grandma should watch the US military training tape on synthetic marijuana. The tape shows personnel what it is like on the drug and it is really creepy. It will make some pee pee their pants during the video.
If this kid was on that drug I would have reloaded.
"Layne was also convicted of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony" What else are they going to charge her with disturbing the peace in the commission of a felony? Or maybe felony endangerment of everybody within 2 miles of where the shooting to place? I think they just like taching stupid charges on.
They should of given her the Death Penalty.
This was an awful, awful happening. My heart just hurts listening to the 911 calls---This elderly woman is a beast---it was never proven he had abused her---he apparently did drugs, but how can a Grandmother shoot a gun 10 times at him, knowing her grandson was dying.
Even Grandmothers are crazy---very few could ever shoot and kill their own flesh and blood, their grandchild. It makes me Puke!
Obviously the punk had it coming.....do ya feel lucky, punk? POW!!!
From initial reports I was on granny's side, you just don't want to believe a grandmother could kill her own grandchild. She had reported that the grandson had kicked her in the stomach and hit her in the head. Many older people bruise more easily due to some medications they take and the natural thinning of the skin as they age so the lack of bruising from the reported abuse makes me suspicious that the abuse ever took place and I believe that Granny just lost it.
I think she was in fear of her grandson but there are many ways of getting him out of her house and out of her life without resorting to violence. Ten shots to the body just isn't self defence, it's pretty much murder. Poor Granny, I bet she regrets what she did but you just can't have a "re-do" when you shoot someone dead. Depending on her sentence, even considering time off for good behavior, she will probably die in prison.
i remember when this 1st was reported , the news release had stated that the police had been to the residence before , for problems with the kid, that is why he was also in the special school , he has trouble in school also, this grandmother should have never been put in this position , the parents and law enforcement/juvie court authorities also share some blame.
There had to be more to this, Grandma just dont kill their grandchildren for no reason unless she was just that senile and old, in which case the children of grandma should have put her in place they could keep an eye on her, In any case what can they do? she could drop over any day from natural causes? I guess help her drop over a little sooner, I know thats wrong also but she did fire 10 times.
This is the fault of this young man's parents.These spoiled immature parents should not be handing their kids over to the grandparent.this kid was doing drugs and his grandmother was afraid of him.She should have been given manslaughter charges with credit for time served and allowed to go home.She was hysterical that night and was remorseful that it cam,e down to her having to shoot him.I am a death penalty advocate and also think that people should serve time for murder.However,this is an exception to the rule.these big bad law enforcement officers putting her in shackles was uncalled for.I am outraged that this nimrod jury members and the judge found her guilty of second degree murder.They should all be ashamed of themsleves
This is a very small article I remember when it happened last year and I read it then. They leftout that the teen was becoming increasingily violent and stealing from her. Bringing home strangers too, I cant remember the whole thing, but it seemed like it was self defense from her stand point and the article (really this small one does no justice to either side) went into detail what he was acting like, he was using drugs, being violent towards her, and stealing among other things. not a bi gun advocate either way but i was hoping that she would get a way lesser charge than 2nd degree - yes folks he was that bad I didnt blame her for what she did. You guys need to google it, it wasnt just some old lady that lost it one night.
Stop shooting me MEEMAW!
Guess no Stand your Ground there ..... LOL
I can see this little old lady being afraid of any thing given her age... I didn't hear the whole trial testimony, but she WAS found guilty by a jury....but to be sure she was not found guilty of felony possession, but so committing a crime, this means a firearm was used to kill her grandson
she was in full right to possess it, but not use it to commit a crime,(a felony). I do think if the grandson was found to be positive for drugs it well should be considered... maybe they missed the "your brain on drugs" advertisement?
I don't know what the situation was but every so often an elderly person will be found beaten to death and then later found it was a grandchild (late teens) on drugs wanting money. She may have been an enabler who didn't want to report the past because she loved him and didn't want him in trouble. Why would she buy a gun unless she was afraid of him and his friends. You take them in because you don't want to see them on the street I guess. If I were her defense attorney I would want to get a lie detectors test from her to see what had been going on. Lucky for some the drug addict may not be violent but just thiefs. You still keep tying a knot in your rope and hanging on because you love them. The parents didn't have him because? He prob. had a step father who wouldn't let him stay with them or the Mother didn't really care for the trouble and pushed him off on Granny. So Sad. Does Granny have any violence in her background?
Being old doesn't mean you can do anything you want...Plain and simple She murdered someone and admitted it...case closed!
WHY WAS THIS CHILD LIVING WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER ANYWAY? I'm sorry his life was taken, but when are parents gonna step up and take responsibility for their own children. Older people are just not mentally or physically equipped to handle children let alone a teenager. This should be considered child-endangerment. This is not just her fault.
@ Tedra1972
I agree, it seems more like self defense, and her quote "I murdered my grandson" was probably said out of shock, and maybe she felt that way, but it does not mean she actually "murdered" the guy.
But this is MSNBC and you are not likely to get a story that is supportive of self defense. And this would not be the first time a jury convicted an innocent person. Not saying she is not guilty, just saying we don't have the whole story.
I just Googled this:
So I am wondering, if only nine casings were found, and the medical examiner only found five slugs, how was he shot ten times?
Also, the speed loader was probably there to help load the magazines, as it is difficult, especially for an elderly person, to push the bullets into it.
Firing the gun at her grandson 10 times while on the phone with 911 is premeditated murder. She heard him say, "I am dying", and continued to shoot him as he talked---I heard his voice say, "She shot me again".
This elderly woman has no remorse---look at her; listen to her--there was no proof she was hit on the side of her head---the grandson may have been wrong; it was supposedly an abusive relationship, but there is help, and the Authorities---I don't care if he was wrong, guns again in the hands of someone who never should have had access to them--Who's to say she wasn't declared mentally ill for her entire life?
Seeing how Michigan is a blue state, they probably have a law against everything when it comes to firearms. This old woman was defending herself and it was twisted into something else. We will never know the reality of what happened because we weren't there, but based on what I've seen of Democrat-elected prosecutors, they will destroy the truth just to get a conviction, especially if it is a high-profile case.
Lawyers are the worst scum in our nation today and their prevalence in Congress shows that to be true.
jp-You know nothing about Michigan or its laws, here's a shocker Republican governor and a large and active hunting community along with a prohibition of the death penalty written into the 1827 constitution. Just as not everyone in Texas is a cowboy and not everyone in New York is a lawyer not everyone in Michigan is the same either
Had she shot him once and he died, she probably would have gotten off. But anytime you shoot someone 10 times, while he is on the phone with 911, you're going to jail for murder. Unless you're a cop.
No kidding! I remember my grandpa telling me to go out and pick out a switch when I was being bad, he NEVER threatened me with a gun. If the kid was that out of control and she truly felt threatened, she should have turned him over to the state or sent him back to his dad. Parents these days need to grow a back bone. Parents first, friends later. I think that's a mentality that is slowly being forgotten.
Even after the better part of a year, this tragic young victim's reputation continues to be smeared by those who cannot see beyond his marijuana use. His loving parents continue to be portrayed as dumping a troubled teen on his grandmother's doorstep.
By all accounts, Jonathan was a very intelligent and kind young man with a bright future ahead of him and many friends and a loving family. He had already accepted a full ride scholarship at Eastern Michigan University, so his college plans were already set and they were in Michigan, in his home state, where he grew up and where his entire life was. Then along came a major snag -- his sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor and the parents chose a world-class treatment center for her in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jonathan had only one year of high school left before starting college at EMU. He clearly had a strong desire to finish high school in his home town, with his friends, rather than start fresh in a new state and have to make new friends, just for senior year, knowing he would be back in Michigan for college after high school graduation. Reluctant parents apparently were convinced by their determined son and his loving grandmother who offered to let her grandson live with her in WB to fulfill his wish.
We will never know how the loving grandmother was transformed into a cold-blooded murderer, or what insane thoughts possessed her to so viciously and deliberately shoot her own grandson over and over, while he was pleading for his life. What put her in such a rage? The arguments the two of them had? His unwillingness to follow her rules? Erroneous beliefs that marijuana turns its users into violent psychotics rather than giggling Dorito-munching couch potatoes?
We cannot know what her thoughts were in those long minutes when she continued to pull that trigger -- even pausing to reload -- while she watched her grandson's blood gush all over the floor and listened to his pleas on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. But one thing is clear: if the ordeal began with a genuine fear for her own life, that fear subsided long before she fired the fatal shot and sealed her fate.
Did you miss the part about how after she shot him several times, he was able to retreat to his room where he called 911 in a panic, begging them to hurry and expressing his fear that he was going to die, and how she followed the blood trail into his room, then carefully took aim and fired the fatal shot while he sat there in his boxer shorts and socks in a pool of his own blood?
I doubt that grandma will ever forget that sight, or the sound of his dying words to the 911 dispatcher on the phone -- "she shot me again!"
The deepest circle of hell has no eternal torture sufficient for a grandmother who would deliberately execute her own grandchild.
@reno 911, did he beat her down and take it from her? After he retreated from the initial shots grandma followed him. She could have been really afraid of him, but the threat was over at that point. She could have ran next door, down the street or someplace else after that. But she chose to continue shooting him. That's not self defense. I am sorry for what she went through. She shouldn't have been burdened with the boy, however, she didn't have the right to kill him.
This is a very sad situation....I think the whole family has problems....I pray that they find peace.
grandma need d-cafe.... or needs grandpa to put out.....
Andy. STFU. You have no idea what young bucks do to older people. They demand and for fear the cave in. Hope someday you are in the same place.
usmc201,
Perhaps if you guys would have done a better job of raising these kids there wouldn't be such problems.
Or, maybe the lack of respect youth today have for their elders is because elders today don't seem to deserve to be respected and are pathologically incapable of showing respect to the youth. I'm curious what part of slashing education budgets and help for the youth of today is supposed to engender trust or respect for the people voting for such measures.
But, considering how you seem to have the same problem demonizing the youth that the old folks do, I have to presume that you're one of the old folks that's expecting us to pay for you to retire.
We don't pay for old folks to retire. They paid all their life for that. It's not a right. It's a debt we owe them for what they paid in. This lady was to old to be dealing with a teen. He needed a 35 or 40 year old man. Who could slap his punk ars around and put him in the road. My son screamed at his mom one time. I asked him if he wanted to get his stuff and leave or if he wanted me to do it for him. He tried to talk about it. I told him there's nothing to talk about. He went to spend the night with a friend. He called the next day and asked if I was still mad. I said, no I wasn't mad then. But when you feel the need to scream at your mom. You better have a place to live. When you are in my house it will be done my way. When I come to your house then I will respect your rules. If you want to live here you better watch your step. He was 15. He is 23 now and is still respectful in his own place.
Why the hell did the parents dump a violent troubled teen on a 74 year old woman?
kandibar
That is what I was thinking! What irresponsible parents he had!
Why the hell did they dump a kid on a violent 74 year old woman? She shot him multiple times while he was on the phone with 911... he was pleading for his life. Did you read the article?
So, "apple don't fall far from the tree" is what yer sayin'?
She had the right to expect to spend her later years in peace. A normal teenager will drive you crazy, not to mention a violent one that does drugs. There are so many criminals that get ridiculous short sentences like 6 months for killing their baby and they will probably give her life.
Why the hell didn't she say No?
My thoughts exactly. If they're getting divorced then why are both parents in Arizona? The kid already had problems thus the alternative school and he probably felt abandoned. He was asking his grandmother for $2000 and her car so he could leave. Why wasn't he asking his parents for money and a car or being flown to Arizona. He could always have gotten a GED or attended another alternative school.
It sounds like the grandmother snapped and was tired of being scared and just couldn't stop shooting. I feel bad for everyone but think the parents are to blame here.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
This situation is sad :( I think everyone needs to REMEMBER...she is the GRANDMOTHER. The childs' parents couldn't take care of him, so they left him with HER. WHY couldn't his OWN parents deal with him? I am sure she didn't EXPECT to raise another teenager at her age. WHY do parents ASSUME their own parents will 'adopt' THEIR children if they decide they cannot accept THEIR parental responsibility? It's very sad that she killed her own grandson, VERY sad :( I hope the boys' PARENTS are doing some SERIOUS thinking about THEMSELVES and their LACK of parenting :(
This is becoming the thing!! Parents are too busy to take care of what they produce.. There are so many Grandparents taking of children, its shameful.. Look at the man that shot his grandparents about two weeks ago in Washington State. He got out of prison, they gave him a party, the next night he killed them, stole their car, and money...They found him in a motel on the beach in Oregon...These young people are so screwed up today its pathetic. I hope they appeal this and get this poor woman off.. I hope the parents of this dead kid, are just happy as all hell. They should be blamed for this.
Momma Tish,
You said it best! Totally agree! Anyone, anywhere with a drug addicted kid could understand what this poor woman went through!
@ Anrkist
Yeah, I read the article, and read several others too, to get the whole story. Maybe if you got the whole story you would know he called 911 after being shot for demanding or threatening this lady for the car and a couple thousand dollars, that I am sure she just had laying around. Just so he could avoid going to jail for failing a drug test.
My thoughts exactly. This is an awful situation. Momma Tish, my condolences. This is ridiculous and sad all around. My guess is this lady was scared, tired and stressed out. I am aware of a mentally ill man who attacked his parents, killed his mother and left the father in a coma for months. Eventually he died and the son was declared incompetent. It was a sorry mess...Drugs and mental illness are a curse... a scourge. Where were the police in all of this? Social Services? Other family members? Was nobody aware of what this young man was doing? Did nobody care? I am amazed by our wonderful mental health non system and our magnificent legal system. They are jonny on the spot when nothing can be done to repair the damage...Sure thing: Lock up the old lady. I am sure it was all her fault..She should have just LET him abuse her...maybe even beat her to death. People take matters into their own hands because there is no other protection. Let this woman go and lock up the "producers" of this boy. THEY are responsible for the mayhem he created....What a disgrace...Grandma stood up for herself and was then willing to be honest. I wish sincerely she had better options.
I have to see this is a grand parent who took in a child she couldn't handle. She shouldn't have took him in. When my son screamed at his mother. I let his friends parents know they didn't do me any favor by giving him a house to sleep in. He needed a night out on the streets to show him the reality that goes with his actions.
Even after the better part of a year, this tragic young victim's reputation continues to be smeared by those who cannot see beyond his marijuana use. His loving parents continue to be portrayed as dumping a troubled teen on his grandmother's doorstep.
By all accounts, Jonathan was a very intelligent and kind young man with a bright future ahead of him and many friends and a loving family. He had already accepted a full ride scholarship at Eastern Michigan University, so his college plans were already set and they were in Michigan, in his home state, where he grew up and where his entire life was. Then along came a major snag -- his sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor and the parents chose a world-class treatment center for her in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jonathan had only one year of high school left before starting college at EMU. He clearly had a strong desire to finish high school in his home town, with his friends, rather than start fresh in a new state and have to make new friends, just for senior year, knowing he would be back in Michigan for college after high school graduation. Reluctant parents apparently were convinced by their determined son and his loving grandmother who offered to let her grandson live with her in WB to fulfill his wish.
We will never know how the loving grandmother was transformed into a cold-blooded murderer, or what insane thoughts possessed her to so viciously and deliberately shoot her own grandson over and over, while he was pleading for his life. What put her in such a rage? The arguments the two of them had? His unwillingness to follow her rules? Erroneous beliefs that marijuana turns its users into violent psychotics rather than giggling Dorito-munching couch potatoes?
We cannot know what her thoughts were in those long minutes when she continued to pull that trigger -- even pausing to reload -- while she watched her grandson's blood gush all over the floor and listened to his pleas on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. But one thing is clear: if the ordeal began with a genuine fear for her own life, that fear subsided long before she fired the fatal shot and sealed her fate.
Again, parents being absolved of any accountability. Leaving a troubles youth who's attending alternative High School meaning he was not exactly a scholar or even making a simple C average in High School. She was too old to have to deal with a kid headed down looser Highway.
The parents get absolved? Completely? We wonder why nobody is willing to take responsibility for anything. Grandma at least had the guts to tell the truth.
Scumbags get to plea bargain this to a 5 year prison sentence. Yet, she took her right to be judged by her peers and stood by that. I don't condone her actions, but I do applaud her willingness to take her punishment.
Something today's punks could learn from.
No kidding...what the hell happened to raising YOUR OWN KIDS.....I wouldn't dream of dumping my kid on my parents. What the hell happened to personal responsibility?
I have been posting this on other vines, there is more to it, as it relates more to the "gun control advocates" but it seems appropriate. here is a portion of it:
The kid should have been locked up the minute he failed his drug test, instead of being allowed to go home and threaten Grandma.
OMG. Momma Tish, You have your hands full and are knee deep in crap. Nobody should have to deal with monster like that... What I want to know is who had the brainstorm to stick him in a house with an at risk senior... ??? Whoever did this should go to jail. That shortsighted idiot set this whole thing up with no regard to the danger. They should put the parents in the same small cell. This is lunacy beyond comprehension...Chilling....one good reason I never had kids and I am not sorry.
Little156, perhaps you should learn some facts before you stick your foot in your mouth. This young victim was in fact a scholar -- he already had a full ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. At his funeral a friend described him as a "computer geek, but a cool one" -- a sociable and well-liked kid with many friends and a loving family.
His parents were in Arizona because that was the location of the world-class treatment center they chose for their daughter, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Jonathan spent his whole life in Michigan, already knew he was going to college in Michigan, and only had to complete his senior year of high school. His loving grandmother (and by all accounts she really *was*) offered of her own free will to let him stay with her so he wouldn't have to spend his last year of high school in a new state at a new school, knowing his college future would bring him back to Michigan less than a year later.
It's a shame that this "scumbag" as you called him didn't have a gun of his own to defend himself against a woman who was overcome with evil, who shot him again & again, who followed the blood trail when he retreated to his room and called 911, who hunted him down like the vicious murderer that she is, heard him begging 911 to hurry, hearing the panic in his voice as he told the 911 operator he thought he was going to die, and then with cold, deliberate intent, took aim one last time and fired the fatal shot...and listened to him speak his dying words to the 911 operator -- "she shot me again!"
AZskibum
Here is some of her own testimony. Along with some facts. I stand by my statement. As I said, I don't condone her actions. I also say his parents should be held accountable as this young man clearly had some serious behavioral issues and had thrown his life away by flunking his drug screening for synthetic marijuana(hardly even close to real marijuana).
You don't stick a troubled teenager with a 74 year old elderly woman. Period. This young man might of had a chance if his parents had put more effort in raising him. Period.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RdP_QOYVlU
Lots of people smoke or have smoked weed -- even a couple of U.S. presidents. Some people get caught and they have legal consequences, but that hardly means they "threw their life away." They do their punishment and they move on. As for synthetic marijuana, it is a cannibinoid not so dissimilar from the natural ones in marijuana -- only as dissimilar as chemists are required to make it to skirt the law.
By all accounts, Jonathan had no more serious behavioral issues than millions of other high school kids who do the same kinds of things he did. But unlike many high school students -- whether they are drug users or not -- this kid had a chance to make something of his life.
I agree that it was a terrible idea to put this boy and his elderly grandmother together, obviously. That is a fatal decision that Jonathan's parents will have to live with for the rest of their lives. You and I have absolutely no idea how he was raised or the "effort" his parents invested in him. We only know that when one child was at risk of dying and their other child had an option to remain with a loved one in his home town, finish high school and then move on to college, they made the choice to move to the city where their daughter was being treated for cancer and not force their son to follow them.
You think they must be bad parents. I wonder how many parents -- divorced ones at that -- would give up their homes, friends and community to move to a strange and faraway city where they had nobody, just to support their child and her treatment.
For the last time! This was not a weed charge. He was arrested for smoking synthetic weed! A completely different type of drug, not organic, not natural. Nobody forced him to violate his parole. So fine he was given a second chance to get his act cleaned up and chose not to take that second chance. Yes we can speculate and never really know. The reality is IMHO you give all you children the same consideration and care both the healthy and the ill.
I am a single parent. I know I was responsible for my Girls and my priorities were for both of them equally. It was extremely challenging at times, but it was my responsibility and accountability to care and supervise them. No it's not easy, but it is necessary to be willing to go to any lengths to give your children the care they need, not the care they want. Sometimes you can't give them what they want, but you must give them what they need.
Rot in hell granny!
Obiviously, your'e just like this punk scumbag. Good for you Grandma for protecting yourself!
I have a teen-aged grandson. I say "rot in hell granny".
What am I just like?
A LOOOOSER. Alot of people just are not getting this. Grandma, GIVE ME 2.000 dollars AND your car! Pretty sure he would have killed her, no problem. That little punk that got sentenced today for killing is classmates and showed nothing but contempt did not have a violent past either. SO YOU GO GRANNY!!
tazzupyours,I'd say that this grand kid was trying to rob his grandmother of her car and money.She should not have to serve one day.
When I was a salesman working third shift, granted it was a while ago, I use to run into old people sleeping on bus benches and wandering the streets at night. One lady really got to me, the security guard, at the grocery store I was at (South Central LA), was trying to shoo this women away. She seemed really frail and looked sick and malnourished. She was wearing slippers, a robe and pajamas. Which were clean, so I knew she wasn't homeless. I didn't understand what she was doing out at night all alone. I though she might have been one of those older people who suffer from Alzheimer, who had wandered away. So I asked her if she needed any help. She started crying and hugged me saying her grandCHILDREN (not just one, multiple grandchildren) kicked her out of her house and stole her social security check that she had gotten that afternoon.
Needless to say, we took her into the store and gave her some coffee and some food from the deli. We also called the police. Sadly, the police told me later that they see this all the time.
I wouldn't find this grandmother guilty of anything. I'd let her go. She was afraid, afraid to kick this kid out, afraid of what he'd do to her. She was terrified. I've seen it. She'll already have to live with this the rest of her life. Nothing else done to her will be worse than that...
That Lady needed to sell her house and move. Let the grandmonsters live on the street. I have seen elder abuse too... It is heartbreaking....
Not only did she shoot at him 10 times, hitting him 6 times, over a period of several minutes, she followed the blood trail like a rabid dog, hunted him down when he escaped to his room. She heard him on the phone with 911 begging them to hurry, she heard the panic in his voice when he said he thought he was going to die. Then she shot him again and heard him exclaim his dying words to the 911 dispatcher -- "she shot me again!"
The ninth circle of hell is not nearly a severe enough torture for what this vile, evil, disgusting excuse of a human being did to her own flesh & blood -- cold-blooded, deliberate execution-style murder.
Too bad she didn't kill him with her first bullet, but I still don't fault the Grandmother. This 'kid', obviously, had issues server enough that his parents dumped him and his Grandmother (Grandparents) was terrorized by him. I suppose you'd have no problem if she HAD kicked him out and he came back and murdered her and her husband, then stole the car and cash from their dead corpses, right?
People like you, who make 'victims' out of worthless losers make me sick. I don't say this usually, but I really hope you get a grand-kid who treats you like this grand-kid treated his grandparents. You more than deserve it.
Meg, This took place in South Central Los Angeles. It's NOT a nice neighborhood. It's the heart of the LA ghetto. I doubt she owned her own home. In fact, I'd be surprised if she wasn't using section 8 housing. She probably had no where to go. She was lucky to find me, instead of the horrible gangs which saturate this neighborhood. I hope that adult services took the time to help her, I wish I knew the outcome...I'm an atheist and yet, I still find myself praying for this lady.
AngelaLD, you don't fault the cold-blooded killer, but you are more than happy to fault the pot-smoking scholarship winner and his distraught parents who uprooted their own lives and moved together -- even though they were divcorced -- to support their dying daughter at a faraway treatment center, but were thoughtful enough to grant their son his wish to stay in his home town, at his loving grandmother's request, so he could finish high school where he started, with his friends, in the state where he already knew he had a full ride to college. And yes, by all accounts she *was* a loving grandmother -- right up until the moment she bought a gun, and with premeditation and extreme prejudice, hunted down her grandson and shot him repeatedly while he begged for his life.
Unlike the people in your South Central LA story, this was a family of means. Jonathan's parents bought him a brand new BMW for his 16th birthday. A mistake? Perhaps. Was he a spoiled rich kid? Perhaps. Did you read the part about how his father suggested that granny take his car away from him to punish his misbehavior? Instead of doing that, granny bought him racing pipes that made the car louder and faster, and more impressive to his teenage friends. She clearly had issues, as the father discussed when he said his mother in law was "always a thorn in my side."
I am happy to hear that people like me make you sick, because it is precisely people like you that are the reason our young people have such a tremendous struggle compared to the generation that came before them. You and your support of cold-blooded murder is just another example of the problem.
The real tragedy here is that the parents had no idea how evil and disturbed this grandmother really was. The secondary tragedy is that Jonathan didn't have a gun of his own to defend himself. The world would be a far better place if he had been given the chance to become the adult he could've been, and eliminate this evil, murderous woman from the face of the Earth.
Blah Blah Blah Blah
I'm not going to qualify any response to you about my personal life. Again, I don't usually do this, but for YOU I'll make an exception...
You're so full of crap, I can smell it from my computer. I hope karma seeks you out, sooner, rather than later.
Karma is a two-way street, so be careful what you wish for.
Prosecutor: "Why when a 17 year old kid is getting ready to go out with his friends, cornered in his bathroom wearing nothing but shorts and socks, do you get a gun and go upstairs?"
Granny: "I got the gun because I wanted him to hear me and pay attention."
Police said there was no evidence of injuries on granny and no sign of a struggle in her house other than the boy's struggle to stay alive -- the blood trail through several rooms, which included granny's bloody footprints -- she walked through his blood to get more ammunition so she could reload her gun.
Listen to the chilling 911 call on youtube. It's nearly 5 minutes long and begins after he has already been shot in the chest. He seems to think grandma has left, he doesn't know where she is, and he is clearly panicked that he's going to die. The 911 operator tells him to sit still, help is on the way, tries to keep him talking -- and for a period of time he is silent. She eventually gets him to respond again, says stay with me, and his voice is weak -- he sounds barely conscious. Then more than 3 minutes into the call you hear his scream "she shot me again!" and a lot of muffled yelling sounds and his dying screams of "help! help! help!".
How anyone could possibly defend this murderous woman's deliberate and premeditated execution of this boy is beyond comprehension. She should consider herself extremely lucky she was only convicted of 2nd degree murder.
To be sure, we cannot excuse what she did.... But, it is obvious that she broke under the stress of caring for this troubled teen.
Really? What was your first clue?
[Sorry. Couldn't resist...]
He was prob begging for his life because Grandma wasn't going to take any more of his crap and he was finally afraid when someone stood up to him.
AMEN... Guess that is one twerp who won't be abusing anyone else...Kudos Grandma...
Obviously he wasn't attacking her when he made the 911 call, so there is no reason why she should have kept on shooting him. She probably knew she was going to get jail time and killed him so she wouldn't get in trouble, then made up that story about the demands.
The real tragedy is that he didn't have the means to defend himself from this evil old psychopath before she had the chance to shoot him repeatedly in cold blood over a period of several minutes.
Rot in hell granny, and I hope your immortal soul endures 100 billion years of the most agonizing torture that your evil master can imagine. You will go down in history as the most wicked of the wicked.
I would not have convicted her. Shame on that jury
The woman admitted to murdering her grandson, so they had little choice. I think they showed compassion by finding her guilty of second degree, and the judge has discretion in his sentencing.
Shame on that jury for not finding this heinous old b*tch guilty of 1st degree murder. No punishment is severe enough for her.
How could you not convict her after hearing the 911 tape? If she was my mother, I would still want to see her convicted. Easy for her to say that she feared for her life. Her grandson can't dispute it after being pumped full of lead. Some kids are difficult to live with, it doesn't mean you can kill them.
@Non-PC, that's what's wrong with most juries. You cannot base the verdict on how you feel. The law is clear in many cases, especially this one. Grandma committed a crime and she should be punished for it. Like another poster stated, the judge has discretion in sentencing. She could get probation, but I doubt it.
What a shock--the kid was a violent scumbag? I wonder where he learned that!? Because it sounds like he came from such nice loving people!
Three cops near this 75 year old grandmother. Really? One would have been enough or maybe zero.
This grandmother finished her job of raising her children. It was the parents of this boy who had the responsibility to care for their child, not the grandmother.
Procedures are to be followed no matter what. Besides, they are also there to protect her from an angry friend, parent etc...
Not that I don't sympathize with her, but I don't think you REALLLY want to go down that road of "everybody be your own death panel," do you? In case you do, well may we suggest moving to Florida. :-)
I call bulls hit to this conviction. This teenage, alternative school a-hole, demand cash and a car from an elderly woman and she tries to defend herself... I think if her attorney was any good at all, he would have won this case. If this kid wasn't a problem, why was he dumped on his Mom's, Mom to raise at the age of 75 years old...
I agree totally, cheesy
Sounds like complete BS about demanding cash and a car from granny. The defense lawyers dreamed it up because it couldn't be proven otherwise. That was never brought up when this first happened. And there's zero evidence this kid ever did anything to the murdering granny. Zero.
You must be a psychic since you know exactly what happened cheesy. More likely she killed him so he couldn't testify against her and the demands were completely made up just like Roodles said.
You can't kill someone because they are demanding something from you. I don't doubt that she was afraid of him, but after he retreated from the first shots, the threat was over in the eyes of the law.
No one knows what really happened in that house between those 2 people besides the young man who died and his Grandmother. That being said... Sure, he was begging for his life while he was on the phone with 911. That doesn't mean he wasn't crazy, or abusive, or high. And it certainly doesn't mean his Grandma WASN'T defending herself. I'm pretty sure that ANYONE who has the opportunity to call 911 while being attacked is going to beg for their life, even if they are guilty as sin and getting what they deserve. And as some other people have stated, where in the hell were his parents??? If he was too unruly for them, WHY was his 74 year old Grandmother taking care of him alone? Sad, sad situation for this family.
Actually ,the judge,jury,media and everybody who has followed this story knows exactly what happened.This Grandmother stepped in when the immature parents would not.I'd say that her account of what happened is credible.Her grandson was a drug addict and bully.He was trying to rob her.That's what she says and I believe her.The jury and judge should be ashamed of themselves.Her lawyer was not a very good one either.I am sickened by these law enforcement officers shackling her.They are a disgrace to their badge.
This grandmother did what she had to do when facing an attacker of superior ability. She stood her ground in her own home and shouldn't have to do a day. She told the truth and I would have not voted to send her to prison. Again! Justice denied!
Lenard, I totally agree with you. I don't know how a jury could see this any other way.
May she rot in hell for all eternity.
Hey Lenard if they let her out on bail at any time she can come and live with you...right? Don't you have some kids that aren't toeing the line (either your own kids or some neighbor) and she could set them straight in a final way?
The police would say to her, that she should not have bought the gun and reported her grandson to the police, but everyone knows that the police don't do anything until something actually occurs, so she would have had to been injured or killed before anything was done. She just beat her grandson to the punch, Oh Well! Without a doubt, she will die in prison!
Yes she did beat him to the punch to to tune of 10 shots at close range. She taught him a lesson, didn't she?
This is a BS conviction. SHAME on the jury. They are as brain dead as the Skanky Anthony jurors. She should never do a day in jail for ridding the earth of another pos punk.
Shame on you for supporting cold-blooded murder.
You know it just seem like there is a lot more to this very sad sad story than what we are hearing here, may God have mercy on her and the family.
Rot in jail granny. Glad to see there's still some justice in this world.
You and jakatze must be very intimate, punk losers.
I've many concerns about the lucidity of those who support the actions of this woman. It is clear she went way beyond defending herself against even a 'perceived' threat. Of course folks have the right to defend themselves, but clearly not the right to execute another - which is what she did once the threat had been defeated. She is no different from the pharmacist from Oklahoma who decided to shoot a would-be armed robber after he was on the ground in an incapacitated state. If a person decides to become executioner then there must be consequences. The kid did not deserve to be put to death. He was, after all, pleading for his life when the fatal rounds were fired by grannie. She probably did not set out to kill the kid in a cold, premeditated manner, but she did take his life in a cold-blooded manner. Second degree murder pretty much fits what she did. I hope those of you supporting her behavior receive exactly the same level of justice should you decide to respond to a 'perceived' threat in the same manner.
Geez Louise another one with their head up their a$$.
If you are 74 and have a violent, drug crazed person you are up against, remember your stupid post and do not shoot.....die instead.
Awesome post Donna! It's hard enough to raise kids and hope that their shenanigans are nothing more than mischief but doing it all over again in your 70's is unimaginable. Her lawyer had to be lousy! Even cold blooded killers get away with insanity!
Being afraid day in and day out for your life does things to your decision making. Listening to the car drive in. Hearing how someone walks into your house. You know when you are in for it again. The constant love and fear of your loved one threatening your existence. The verbal abuse that you do not have the power to be safe in your own home. Not being able to eat, sleep or even sit in your chair without listening for the next shoe to drop. Being an elder female, understanding that no one is out there to help you without you humiliating yourself to turn your own flesh and blood in to the authorities. Knowing the authorities won't do anything until you have physical evidence, being beaten or dead. Knowing that the authorities, neighbors or families are not able or willing to help the elderly or females as they were in 1942. Knowing that pulling a trigger with the age disabilities at the age of 74, is different than at 20. Knowing that this elderly woman was pushed to this point is a disgrace of our society.
Self defense.
I was in a situation where my drug addicted brother pulled a loaded gun on me. If I had one, I would had killed him and don't know how I would had live with it. I doubt the sentence would had been my biggest worry. If it had not been for others in the household that disarmed my brother and a lot of fast talking from me, I would had been dead.
I tried to get him rehab. My parents would not go for it. It would had reflected on them. If they had loved him more than enabling him, to appease their fears of what people would think- he might still be alive today.
I feel for this woman. She was alone in all forms of the word. She was terrified, even when she was not thinking of her situation. You can not evict someone that is a family member that does not pay rent.
What sentence she got, she doesn't care. She has her last few years to try to cope with this.
The grandson's parents, well I do not have the words to say how I feel they are responsible for this. Parents, just parent. That includes saying "no". Our kids Aren't Special. They are just kids that need to be parented. The law says human children are the responsibilities of the parents till 18 for a reason. They need parented. Taught right from wrong, develop a conscience. This is not a pleasant task, but that is why parents exist. We have failed miserably at this.
This woman needs a good lawyer and private detectives. There needs to be an appeal. Believe me the county and state are looking for any excuse to get out under the financial burden of this sentence as soon as possible. The medical cost alone is making them very unhappy.
I have heard alcoholics and drug addicts cry like babies, when they are in situations they no longer control. She shot him numerous times because mentally and physically she was unable to stop-FEAR. She was fighting for her survival. I feel so sad for her. 2 people were killed that day, herself and her grandson.
I am not only lucid, but highly intelligent, educated and experienced in the mental health field. You, productof, have NO idea what that woman was feeling when her hopped up grandmonster came at her. Survival is the first law of nature. When threatened with bodily injury, it is perfectly normal to act in self defense. People panic and snap..Sorry you don't like the results..Have you ever been in fear for your life?? It is a completely different scenario I hope you never come close to experiencing.
Who the hell makes up these laws?
Good Lord Lady just give him the money and keys and then call the Police. Now you will die in Prison
actually, she might be better off in prison at her age. 3 hots and a cot. Sure beats a nursing home, maybe there she'll be treated with some respect from her fellow inmates, sure wasn't by her kid and grand kid.
A child-murderer getting respect from her fellow inmates? I wonder what prison shows you've been watching!
Fu-ck it.
There is no justice here. The punk deserved punishment; grandma needed a break. I can understand how she would feel; what I don't understand is why she did not speak up earlier or try to get the kid back to the parents. She will not serve much time; the courts will see to that..his death sentence will last forever. Parents, when you have kids that turn out like crap, look within--this whole family needs some serious mirror time.
What is wrong with you? There is no justification for grannie executing her grandson. Yes, he may have been a troubled teen. He may have been the by-product of very bad parenting. However, he became the victim of a grandmother who made the decision to become judge, jury, and executioner. Grannie summed it up perfectly when she stated to the responding police, "I just murdered my grandson." You are guessing at her motives, yet she stated with absolute certainty what she did. Why can't you accept that?
He was a druggie.He invited strangers over to her home,no doubt other druggies.He was trying to get Grandma to hand over her car and money,that is called robbery.He was not an innocent young man.she should be released and given a parade.
@cleaning lady Too bad that's all speculation. You don't know what the situation was or what went down.
Had gramdma first said - as police entered her home - "he attacked me" - and shown evidence of rough handling - or any injury - on her skin - she might have been considered to have shot in self-defense. Another problem, though, was the actual NUMBER of shots.......a bit too excessive to use that reason.....
She is, in my opinion, very guilty. A gun should not be used to "communicate." The whole family, possibly, for several generations, sounds as if they need intervention.
Guess she will end up in a prison cemetery
Or the deepest circle of hell, which is still too good for her.
give her 5000,00 reward and set her free
This is SO very sad. I have three small grandsons, 7 and two 3 yr olds. I can not even imagine getting to the point where I'd ever even point a gun at them..let alone pull the trigger ten times. Sad, sad, sad.
Well, they're 7 and 3, allot can happen in a few years. Teach your children well.
Here in Corpus Christi, TX, just last month a 32 year old man that was staying with his grandmother, murdered her then dismembered the body with a chain saw. My sister in law used to work for City Adult Services & there were many cases where the grandchildren were staying with the grandparents, taking their social security pension & blowing it partying & the grandparents were left in a filthy house with no food & shut off utilities. The parents should be in prison...they had to have known that the grandson was giving her a hard time, yet they obviously didn't care, and did nothing. The parents are more responsible for his death than the grandmother.