Florida teen Seth Settle was arrested and charged with allegedly shooting and killing his mother this week in their home in Polk County. According to a report by Fox 13 Tampa Bay, the 19-year-olf reportedly shot and killed his mom on Thursday, April 28, after she ordered Settle to stop smoking cigars in his bedroom.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that the incident occurred shortly after Settle's father left for work on what seemed like a normal weekday. Settle's dad then received a call shortly after 9:30 a.m., with the caller notifying him that his wife had been taken to a hospital.
According to authorities, they were first alerted to the incident by Settle's 24-year-old brother, who found his mother in their Lake Wales home in a collapsed state. Authorities did not immediately suspect foul play surrounding her death as there reportedly was not any blood found in the home or obvious injuries to the body of the victim.
Puncture wounds found on victim
Settle's dad was informed of his wife's death by the time he had picked up his daughter from school and returned home. The New York Post reported that a nurse inspected the body of Settle's mother after she was pronounced dead and found what appeared to be puncture wounds on the victim.
Authorities identified the victim as a 52-year-old woman. Judd said that Settle's mother dropped off her 14-year-old daughter at school on Thursday morning. When she returned home, she smelled smoke coming from her son's bedroom.
According to Judd, she opened the door to confront her son, telling Seth "I've told you before about smoking in this house. Now quit smoking in the house." Judd said that after she closed the door, Seth shot her through it. Judd said that the victim had been shot in the heart, but the bleeding was stopped immediately which staunched the flow of blood.
Seth Settle tried to cover up his crime
Judd claimed that Settle engaged in a cover-up to hide his crime, according to Law and Crime. First responders and other family members did not initially know that the death of Settle's mother was due to a shooting. Judd said that the suspect jumped up and ran to where his 24-year-old brother was in the large house after the shooting.
Judd said that Settle's elder brother was in a bathroom at the time and did not hear what he was saying. When his brother stepped out of the bathroom, Seth had already fled their home. The elder brother then looked for his mother, who he found lying on the floor in the game room by Seth's room.
According to the sheriff, a medical examiner determined that the bullet went through the victim's heart, which then quit beating. According to Judd's account, with the heart not beating anymore, this ostensibly resulted in the lack of bleeding by the victim.
