Emmanuel "Manny" Espinoza, a pre-medical student enrolled at the University of Florida, is charged with homicide after fatally stabbing his mother at her residence during the weekend, as revealed by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Monday.
Pre-Med Student Fatally Stabs His Mother
Espinoza allegedly stabbed his mom, Elvia, more than 70 times after she welcomed him for a visit from college. Liable with first-degree killing and proof tampering, Espinoza is presently held in the Polk County Jail.
Sheriff Judd explained that Espinoza targeted specific areas in his mother's chest and stomach, informed by his medical schooling.
After the stabbing, Espinoza called 911 and admitted to the crime. Noticeably, he was listening to the song "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z and Kanye West during the circumstances.
Espinoza, the youngest of Elvia's three children, reportedly confessed to detectives that he had considered murdering his mom for a long time and certainly acted on it during his drive from Gainesville, where the university is situated, to Frostproof, his residence. Despite expressing annoyance with his mother since childhood, he also stated that he loved her.
While Espinoza was described as "remarkably brilliant" and had no history of mental illness or substance abuse, he declined the services of a public defender according to online court records. Additionally, he exercised his right not to be interviewed by investigators regarding the charges against him.
Polk County Teacher Stabbed to Death by College Son
According to Judd, Elvia had contacted her son, Emmanuel, the youngest of her three children, that morning to inquire if she could visit him while he pursued his studies as a pre-med student at the University of Florida.
"Mom called on Saturday morning and said, 'Manny, I haven't seen you in a while. I want to come up to Gainesville to see you,'" the sheriff explained. "He replied, 'Well, mom, I'm visiting grandfather this weekend; he has an event, so I'll be in your vicinity.' She responded, 'That's great. Why don't you stay with me at the house?' And he agreed, saying, 'Sure, I'd love to.'"
Emmanuel arrived at his mother's residence in Frostproof around 2 p.m. that Saturday. According to a probable cause arrest document, he then put on his Air Pods and played "No Church in the Wild" by Jay Z and Kanye West as he approached the house.
Ring camera footage depicted Emmanuel approaching the front door with a knife concealed behind his back. Upon finding the door locked, he knocked, while Elvia was reportedly on the phone with her brother at the time.
Her brother overheard her say, "I think Manny is here," before she opened the door. According to the affidavit, that's when he heard Elvia screaming for help.
"The moment she opened the door, he charged in and began stabbing her," Judd recounted. "He claimed he knew where to stab her for maximum effect due to his biology classes. He said he noticed her hands were still moving, so he continued stabbing her."
Emmanuel sustained a cut on his hand during the attack and was observed washing his hands and the knife on an interior camera.
Additionally, there were no items found in his university room indicating premeditation. Elvia had no negative interaction with her son on that day and was eager to see him.
"She was truly the epitome of a perfect mom," Judd expressed. "She was immensely proud of his accomplishments, graduating number one in his high school class and attending the University of Florida."
Elvia's obituary portrayed her as a beloved teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School, a cherished family member, and a radiant presence in the lives of all who knew her.
Related Article: Judge Declares Harmony Montgomery Legally Dead After Father Convicted for Her Murder
