Inset: Justine Mroz (Pasco County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The house where Mroz allegedly strangled her own 6-year-old son to death (WFLA).
A tragic incident unfolded in Florida as a 40-year-old educator faces charges after allegedly confessing to the murder of her 6-year-old son. The teacher reportedly dialed 911, admitting to the dispatcher that she had strangled her child, later attributing her actions to a sudden breakdown.
Identified as Justine Eve Mroz, she was apprehended earlier this week and is now confronted with a charge of second-degree murder, which indicates a dangerous act done with a depraved mind but without premeditated intent, as per court documents.
Law enforcement has confirmed that the young victim was named Elliot Perez, providing the tragic context to this heartbreaking case.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office released an official statement detailing the events. Deputies responded to a call about a juvenile homicide around 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, in the vicinity of Drexel Road, Land O’Lakes, Florida. The report noted that the suspect herself, an adult woman, contacted dispatch to report the crime.
Details from a probable cause affidavit reveal that Mroz, who recently divorced in July, had collected her son from his father and settled him to bed around 6:30 p.m. on October 18. She had confessed to having suicidal thoughts the day before and had even attempted to suffocate herself with a plastic bag, stopping only when fear set in.
The morning following the incident, Mroz entered her son’s room around 7 a.m., discovering he had vomited. She cleaned up the mess and turned on the television for him, according to the affidavit.
A short while later, Elliot, who has autism and is nonverbal, allegedly began “banging his head on the floor.” Mroz said that when she attempted to restrain the boy, he became physically combative, kicking and biting her before striking the left side of her face.
She then confessed to using her bare hands to kill Elliot as he fought to save his own life, the affidavit says. According to the document:
She snapped, got mad, grabbed him with her hands and choked him with both hands. Justine Mroz eventually pinned [Elliot] down on the ground on his back and began kneeling over [his] body. Justine Mroz straddled [the victim] as she was in a mount position and squeezed [his] neck as hard as she could. [Elliot] began fighting and Justine Mroz continued to squeeze his neck until he became lifeless. Justine Mroz then went into the dining room, cut her wrists, and called 911. Justine Mroz then sent a text message to family members saying she was sorry.
Mroz was initially transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital North for treatment of her own injuries. Authorities said she tested positive for THC.
The Pasco County School District confirmed to Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA that Mroz was employed by the district, but declined to provide details about her duties. Jessica Meek, the public information officer for the school board, released the following statement to the station:
Pasco County Schools can confirm that Justine Mroz is employed by Pasco County Schools. She has been arrested by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and will not be on any school campus. In accordance with Pasco County Schools policy and employee privacy laws, no additional information will be provided at this time. On behalf of the entire Pasco County Schools family, we extend our deepest condolences to all who are grieving. We are deploying crisis teams to provide care and support to those affected by this heartbreaking event.
Mroz is currently being held without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court at the West Pasco County Judicial Center on Oct. 27 for a status hearing.
