A Florida man has been charged with shooting his mother to death as she celebrated her 78th birthday.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Joanne Turrell’s body was found by a neighbor who checked on her at the request of Turrell’s daughter. The neighbor found the woman, covered in a blanket, and called 911.
Deputies arrived and found Turrell’s son, 53-year-old Douglas Turrell — who lives at the home — in a locked bedroom with a gun.
He was arrested and charged with second degree murder.
“Our heart breaks for the friends and family of this woman whose life was not only tragically ended but done so at the hands of her son,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Joanne Turrell was celebrating her 78th birthday. A time that should have been filled with joy and beautiful memories. Instead, we are now trying to piece together what resulted in it ending in such heartbreak.”
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[Featured image; Douglas Turrell/Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office]
