Left: Britney Andrus. Right: Tyler Best (Highland County Sheriff).
A woman from Florida is now facing a life sentence following her conviction for murdering and robbing her husband’s 88-year-old great-grandfather to elope with her boyfriend to Michigan.
Britney Andrus, age 29, was found guilty on charges of second-degree murder, burglary, and grand theft auto. This verdict was delivered on Friday concerning the 2020 beating death of James Little at his residence in Sebring. Her boyfriend, Travis Best, 25, had earlier pled guilty to the same offenses and is said to have provided testimony against Andrus during her trial.
Andrus and Best were residing in an in-law suite connected to Little’s home. At the time of the murder, Andrus’s husband was incarcerated. Prior to the killing, Andrus and Best conspired to rob Little’s home, targeting his car and the jewelry that belonged to his wife, who had passed away a mere month before. They intended to use the stolen belongings to relocate to Michigan and live with her grandmother, as detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit.
On October 22, 2020, around 1:30 p.m., Andrus appeared at a neighbor’s door, insisting she had just discovered Little unconscious in his room. He was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries five days later.
Although it took a year to arrest Andrus and Best for the slaying, investigators suspected them almost immediately.
Little’s bedroom showed signs of turmoil, with drawers open and jewelry boxes missing. His car and wallet, which contained approximately $1,500, were also missing. Additionally, a hidden safe, which only close family would likely know about, had vanished, according to police observations.
“The crime scene indicated that the victim was likely awoken by an intruder(s), assaulted, and left injured in his home for a significant period before emergency services and law enforcement were informed,” detectives noted in the affidavit.
There was also “blood evidence” throughout the room, the affidavit said. An autopsy concluded Little died of blunt force trauma to the head. The suspects struck Little 12 times with an unknown object and left him to die while they ran off with his possessions. Best used some of the money from Little’s wallet to buy methamphetamine.
Detectives cobbled together surveillance videos of the couple driving around town in Little’s car and spending his money. Investigators also spoke with some of their friends who said Andrus showed up with blood on her shirt. Andrus said “I don’t know what I did” and that the blood on her shirt was not hers. She then stated “It was like he was asking for it anyways.”
According to a courtroom report from the Highlands News-Sun, Best testified against Andrus, saying killing Little was her idea.
“I told her I wanted nothing to do with it,” Best reportedly testified. “It was a big argument, I packed a suitcase and left.”
The items in the suitcase were stolen from Little. They then went to a friend’s house where Andrus admitted to killing Little, Best told the jury.
“She said, ‘I did it, I did it.’ I thought she killed this man. I saw blood on her collar,” he said.
Andrus is slated to be sentenced on Sept. 15.
Little’s son told the News-Sun he was pleased with the outcome of the case.
“I am extremely gratified by the verdict,” he said. “It was something the family was waiting for for five years.”
