Daughter says she strangled 97-year-old mother to death so she could die 'with dignity,' police say

A Florida pistillate allegedly told constabulary that she helped her aged mother extremity her beingness upon her request.

Martha Jo Blake, 66, was charged with first-degree murder aft her 97-year-old mother, Patricia Blake, was found dead successful her location connected Dec. 26. According to a probable origin affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, Patricia Blake's decease was determined to beryllium a homicide aft an autopsy revealed grounds of "something being placed connected [her] face" on with different signs of imaginable strangulation.

Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office responded to Patricia Blake's location connected the greeting of Dec. 26. Martha Blake was there, and she told constabulary that she past saw her parent live the nighttime before. Her communicative changed aft the autopsy took place.

When deputies archetypal encountered Martha Blake, she said that her parent had suffered from Parkinson's illness and a thyroid upset earlier her death. The older woman's superior attraction doc was located successful Maine, truthful she was referred to the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The aesculapian examiner noticed respective details astir Patricia Blake's assemblage that were "not accordant with a earthy death."

Among the aesculapian examiner's findings was a deficiency of post-mortem humor pooling successful Patricia Blake's nose, which was "consistent with thing being placed connected the face" earlier death. The doc besides recovered respective locations of interior bleeding and petechiae successful the older woman's eyes, cheeks, and wrong the mouth. Patricia Blake's cervix besides had a "fresh fracture" and hemorrhaging connected some sides.

Police reviewed the assemblage camera footage from the country and noted that Martha Blake insisted connected staying with her mother's assemblage the full time. After obtaining a hunt warrant for the location wherever the parent and girl some lived, constabulary spoke to Martha Blake again successful a constabulary vehicle. She was not placed nether apprehension and agreed to reply questions.

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According to the probable origin affidavit, Martha Blake told constabulary that she had been her mother's caregiver for the past 5 years. A twelvemonth and a fractional anterior to Patricia Blake's death, some parent and girl purportedly discussed "death with dignity" with the older woman's superior attraction doc successful Maine. Martha Blake said the doc told them that Patricia Blake was not eligible due to the fact that she was not suffering from a terminal illness.

Police said that Martha Blake seemingly decided to instrumentality matters into her ain hands. She told constabulary that she and her parent discussed "suicide by taking pills," but they did not person thing connected manus that was "lethal" enough. Martha Blake explained to constabulary that her parent told her "she did not privation to live, and has told her this galore times." After Martha Blake was work her rights, she maintained the aforesaid story.

Martha Blake was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She is being held astatine the Main Detention Center successful West Palm Beach, Florida, without bond. Her adjacent tribunal day is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2026.