Inset: Blake Hornsby (Washington County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The junction of Strickland and Still Pond roads in Washington County, Fla. (Google Maps).
A man from Florida, charged with murdering his mother, was discovered in tears when the authorities reached the scene, reportedly revealing a unique rationale during his interrogation.
Blake Hornsby, aged 37, faces charges of second-degree murder for the death of 64-year-old Mary Jane Ward from Quitman, Georgia, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office disclosed on Thursday. He continues to be held in Washington County Jail without the possibility of bail.
On Wednesday, at about 12:30 p.m., deputies received a call saying people at a home in the 5000 block of Still Pond Road needed help. As deputies approached the front door, “they could hear crying coming from inside.”
A man later revealed to be Hornsby opened the door. He was “obviously distraught and very emotional,” according to a probable cause affidavit. The defendant was crying and stated, “she’s inside,” the sheriff’s office added. Furthermore, Hornsby had “open wounds bleeding and dripping blood on the floor.”
When deputies entered the home, they observed an unconscious woman inside, who was not breathing and had “severe bruising, dark marks on her neck.” Authorities tried to provide medical assistance “to no avail.” She was pronounced dead – having “suffered severe injuries on her neck consistent with being choked.”
Attention turned again to Hornsby.
Deputies “observed blood on Hornsby’s hands, with busted and cut knuckles. He also had visible scratch marks on his body consistent with a physical altercation,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the affidavit, he “stated they were attacked earlier in the day,” but getting further information out of him was difficult. “He was very emotional and could not communicate,” the court document stated.
Investigators spoke with neighbors and other family members who said no one else had been at the home around the time of the woman’s death except for the suspect and victim. They further examined Hornsby and saw “deep scraps on the outside of his fingers” that appeared to be consistent with cuts from fingernails.
Authorities said they read Hornsby his Miranda rights and then asked him what had happened.
Hornsby said he “usually protects” something “but today he couldn’t,” according to the heavily-redacted affidavit. Hornsby also reportedly told an investigator “the robots made him do it but never explained what it was.”
Hornsby is now scheduled to undergo a mental competency evaluation. He has an arraignment date set for Sept. 8.
