A Florida woman has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering and robbing her husband’s 88-year-old great-grandfather, all in a bid to flee to Michigan with her boyfriend.

Britney Andrus, aged 29, received her life sentence on Wednesday for the 2020 killing of James Little, who was beaten to death in his home in Sebring. In July, Andrus was convicted of second-degree murder, burglary, and grand theft auto. Her boyfriend, 25-year-old Tyler Best, had earlier admitted to the same charges and provided testimony against Andrus during her trial. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison back in January.

During the sentencing, James Little’s grandson, Joshua Little, shared emotional remarks, describing his grandfather as someone who “loved helping people.”

“He was 88 years old when his life was taken during what should have been his golden years,” Joshua Little stated, according to a report from the Highlands News-Sun. “This was not just a homicide; it was a theft. Britney stole his life and dignity. I can’t fathom the loneliness he felt in his last moments, calling out for my grandmother who had already passed away.”

Andrus’ lawyer highlighted her long-standing mental health struggles, citing a traumatic childhood incident where she discovered her mother’s murdered body at the age of five.

However, prosecutor John Kromholz argued that Andrus’ history did not justify her actions, emphasizing that the case centered on her brutal act of killing an elderly man while under the influence of drugs.

“That’s why she’s a danger,” he said, per the News-Sun.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Andrus and Best were living in the mother-in-law suite attached to Little’s home. Her husband was in jail at the time of the murder. In the days leading up to the slaying, Andrus and Best hatched a plan to steal from Little’s home, including his car and jewelry that had belonged to his wife who had died just a month earlier, cops wrote in a probable cause arrest affidavit. They planned to travel to Michigan to live with her grandmother, cops said.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, 2020, Andrus ran to a neighbor’s house and claimed she had just found Little unconscious in his bedroom. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died five days later.

Although it took a year to arrest Andrus and Best for the slaying, investigators suspected them almost immediately.

Little’s bedroom was in disarray with open drawers and missing jewelry boxes. His car and wallet with some $1,500 in cash inside also had been stolen. In addition, there was a missing safe that was hidden and that only close family members would have known about, cops noted.

“Based on the scene, it was evident the victim was awoken by an intruder(s), was struck multiple times, and laid hurt in the residence for some time before EMS and law enforcement being notified,” detectives wrote 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.”

Best testified against Andrus, saying killing Little was her idea, the News-Sun reported.

“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.

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.”