Photo: Polk County Sheriff's Office, Warner University Teacher Education
A Florida pre-medical student accused of stabbing his mother to death reportedly told authorities he killed her because she "got on her nerves." The Polk County Sheriff's Office said they arrested Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, Saturday afternoon (April 6) after he admitted to killing 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza, an elementary school teacher.
Deputies claim the suspect drove from the University of Florida in Gainesville and arrived at his mother's home in Frostproof around 2 p.m. Emmanuel knocked on the front door and immediately stabbed his mother after she answered the door, Sheriff Grady Judd stated in a video release.
“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,” Judd said.
The 21-year-old called 911 and confessed to the murder, according to the sheriff's office.
“I have wanted to kill my mother for many, many years because she got on my nerves,” Judd said of Emmanuel's confession.
Deputies said Elvia was a second-grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Elementary School in Frostproof. On Monday (April 8), the school shared a Facebook post mourning the loss of the educator.
"We lost a beloved member of the FBHG family over the weekend. Ms. Espinoza will be greatly missed," the post reads.
The suspect was booked into jail Saturday evening for first-degree murder.