ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A 13-year-old boy is accused of stabbing his 56-year-old grandmother to death in St. Petersburg.
The St. Petersburg Police Department said an adult woman, later identified as Gloria Davis, was found dead just after 3:30 a.m. Monday morning. They said her body, which was found in the kitchen area of the home, showed "signs of violence."
When officers arrived, they found the woman's 13-year-old grandson and a 12-year-old at the house.
Police later identified Davis' 13-year-old grandson as the stabbing suspect. He's charged with second-degree murder, according to St. Pete Police, but charges could be upgraded.
Officers said the teen did not have any prior interactions with law enforcement and did not have any known behavioral issues in school.
Davis was watching the children Monday morning when the stabbing occurred, according to St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
It will be up to the state attorney's office to decide whether the 13-year-old boy will be tried as an adult or not, police said. Gloria Davis was the teen's paternal grandmother.
Officers are not sure why the teen stabbed his grandmother to death.
Detectives are going through social media profiles and electronics owned by the teen to look for clues. They say the boy was cooperating with law enforcement, but family members later asked for an attorney.
Davis' neighbors, coworkers, and family members say she worked as a long-time postal worker for USPS. They said she lived a quiet life and frequently attended a baptist church.
Coworkers from USPS said Davis did not seem to have any enemies and was always in good spirits. She was expected to report to work on Monday morning but did not show up.
"When we walked in the post office, we could hear her laugh. Her laughter was hearty. If anyone was having a bad day, you could go to her and she'd make you feel good," Tabitha McNeil said. "This is gut-wrenching. We are all in shock and wondering why. I've known her for more than 10 years, and I've never seen her mad or upset."
Gilda Durant, who also worked with Davis, said she was equally puzzled.
"You never heard anything bad about her. That's why this is so devastating for everyone," Durant said. "She never had a bad word to say about anyone and was always smiling."
Mequel Mobley, who lives two doors down, agreed.
"She was wonderful. She was just like a second mom to me. I loved her to death," Mobley said.
St. Petersburg Police will send victim advocates to help out family members as they deal with the tragedy.
This story was originally published by
WFTS
in Tampa, Florida.
