ERBO, FL – Deputies in the Florida Panhandle town of Erbo arrested a 37-year-old man earlier in July for the alleged murder of his mother, with investigators still working to determine a possible motive due to the suspect’s bizarre claim that “robots” made him commit the act.
On the afternoon of July 23rd, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence located along the 5000 block of Still Pond Road after receiving a call about individuals inside the home needing help.
When deputies arrived on scene, authorities say a man identified as Blake Hornsby answered the door in a “obviously distraught and very emotional” manner.
Officials say Hornsby was crying when he said, “she’s inside,” with deputies observing the presence of “open wounds” on Hornsby that were “bleeding and dripping blood on the floor.” Upon entering the home, deputies located an unconscious woman who wasn’t breathing.
The unnamed woman reportedly bore “severe bruising” and “dark marks on her neck,” as first responders attempted to render life-saving care. After attempts to revive the woman, who was determined to be Hornsby’s mother, proved unsuccessful, she was declared deceased as a likely result of having “suffered severe injuries on her neck consistent with being choked.”
Deputies further questioned Hornsby who officials say initially claimed he and his mother “were attacked earlier in the day,” but seemingly couldn’t expand further beyond the limited explanation as authorities say Hornsby “was very emotional and could not communicate.”
Meanwhile, the presence of “blood on Hornsby's hands, with busted and cut knuckles,” and “visible scratch marks on his body,” in tandem with statements from neighbors claiming Hornsby and the deceased were the only ones at the home that day, led investigators to pin Hornsby as their primary suspect.
Investigators mirandized Hornsby shortly thereafter and began to probe for details on what precisely occurred inside of the home.
Authorities say Hornsby offered little insight into the incident, aside from reportedly telling investigators that he “usually protects” something he didn’t explicitly specify, “but today he couldn’t.”
In addition to the vague details provided by the suspect regarding the physical aspect of the incident, the only element of a motive shared by officials was Hornsby allegedly telling investigators that “the robots made him do it,” but officials noted he didn’t expand beyond the aforementioned statement.
Hornsby remains in custody at the Washington County Jail in Chipley and has been scheduled to undergo a mental competency evaluation. An arraignment for the defendant is slated for September 8th.
On the afternoon of July 23rd, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence located along the 5000 block of Still Pond Road after receiving a call about individuals inside the home needing help.
When deputies arrived on scene, authorities say a man identified as Blake Hornsby answered the door in a “obviously distraught and very emotional” manner.
Officials say Hornsby was crying when he said, “she’s inside,” with deputies observing the presence of “open wounds” on Hornsby that were “bleeding and dripping blood on the floor.” Upon entering the home, deputies located an unconscious woman who wasn’t breathing.
The unnamed woman reportedly bore “severe bruising” and “dark marks on her neck,” as first responders attempted to render life-saving care. After attempts to revive the woman, who was determined to be Hornsby’s mother, proved unsuccessful, she was declared deceased as a likely result of having “suffered severe injuries on her neck consistent with being choked.”
Deputies further questioned Hornsby who officials say initially claimed he and his mother “were attacked earlier in the day,” but seemingly couldn’t expand further beyond the limited explanation as authorities say Hornsby “was very emotional and could not communicate.”
Meanwhile, the presence of “blood on Hornsby's hands, with busted and cut knuckles,” and “visible scratch marks on his body,” in tandem with statements from neighbors claiming Hornsby and the deceased were the only ones at the home that day, led investigators to pin Hornsby as their primary suspect.
Investigators mirandized Hornsby shortly thereafter and began to probe for details on what precisely occurred inside of the home.
Authorities say Hornsby offered little insight into the incident, aside from reportedly telling investigators that he “usually protects” something he didn’t explicitly specify, “but today he couldn’t.”
In addition to the vague details provided by the suspect regarding the physical aspect of the incident, the only element of a motive shared by officials was Hornsby allegedly telling investigators that “the robots made him do it,” but officials noted he didn’t expand beyond the aforementioned statement.
Hornsby remains in custody at the Washington County Jail in Chipley and has been scheduled to undergo a mental competency evaluation. An arraignment for the defendant is slated for September 8th.
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