A Florida woman allegedly took her mother’s life. Reportedly, authorities became aware of the situation after suspicious details came to light at the woman’s autopsy. This reportedly took place after the mother was denied a request from her doctor.
The Woman’s Daughter Initially Claimed To Have Last Seen Her Mother Alive On Christmas
Patricia Blake was a 97-year-old woman suffering from Parkinson’s disease and a thyroid disorder. She was recently found dead at her family home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Her daughter, Martha Jo Blake, 66, also spoke with local authorities at the time. She initially told Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies that she last saw her mother alive around 10 PM local time on Christmas Day.
As noted by The New York Post, Patricia’s body underwent an autopsy. This soon revealed various injuries, including a broken neck, that were consistent with a homicide. The woman also reportedly endured eye hemorrhaging consistent with suffocation.
By the time the body was sent to the medical examiner, the skin was also tinted purple, especially around the nose. This indicated something was placed around her face around the time of her death, as confirmed by local authorities.
A deputy then reviewed body camera footage from the original response to Martha Jo’s home. A quarter-sized red mark was also noticed on the side of her neck.
A Resident Also Talked About The Mother & Daughter Before The Tragic Incident
After obtaining a search warrant, Martha Jo was found at her family’s home with friends. She then reportedly confessed that she and Patricia started talking about dying with “dignity” over a year and a half ago. Reportedly, Patricia’s Maine-based doctor denied a request for medically assisted suicide.
According to Maine law, a person seeking medically assisted suicide must have a terminal illness with a six-month prognosis. However, Parkinson’s disease isn’t technically a terminal illness.
Martha Jo allegedly confessed that they tried to find alternatives. This included suicide by pills. However, this idea was reportedly rejected, as they did not have anything lethal on hand.
Deputies then found a pair of white calf-length socks in a shopping bag within a garbage bag on the property’s front porch. Martha Jo was then booked on a first-degree premeditated murder charge due to her mother’s death. In Florida, this comes with the possibility of the death penalty or life in prison.
According to WPBF 25 News, Martha Jo has since been accused of “strangling” her mother. Speaking with the outlet, a local resident, Allen Romello, shared that the news came as a shock to neighbors, noting how the mother and daughter appeared close to each other. He shared, “We [could] see her daughter push her outside on a regular basis. Like from what we can see, [it] was good care.”
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.