A Floridian father has been arrested following the alleged murder of his own teenage son.
The 37-year-old Stephan Thomas Rodda is now facing serious accusations after being suspected of murdering his son Stephen Lee Rodda, 16, using an angle grinder.
The incident, which took place inside a mobile home in Polk County, shocked the neighborhood.
Rodda attempted to leave the area following the allegedly violent incident. However, he was captured by law enforcement agents in Lake Wales’ 2500 block of Old Bartow Road, ending his attempt to flee.
Stephen, the victim, was a junior in high school and a student at Frostproof High School at the time of his tragic passing.
Grady Judd, the sheriff of Polk County, spoke during a press conference to emphasize the issue’s seriousness and strongly denounce Rodda’s behavior.
Judd stated how the situation breaks their heart, and this horrible occurrence is beyond comprehension.
To help out while his grandmother was receiving treatment, Stephen had been residing with his grandfather, 67-year-old Thomas Rodda.
Thomas left that day to see his wife and returned in the morning. He ran into Stephan at that point and heard a terrifying revelation.
The grandfather claims that Stephan said, “I wouldn’t go in there if I was you. I killed someone. You may need to call the police.”
This startling revelation was somewhat expected because Rodda has a history of making “bizarre” claims, according to Thomas. When Thomas entered the mobile home, he was horrified to see his dead grandson’s body in the dining room.
Initial investigations suggest that Rodda committed the suspected murder with an angle grinder, a strong tool used for cutting and grinding.
The investigation into the cause of the horrific episode is still underway, leaving many questions unresolved. Rodda had a lengthy criminal history and has lived in various locales, including Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington, D.C., as additional evidence has come to light.
Although the sheriff mentioned that Rodda had a warrant out for his arrest in South Carolina, extradition was not sought due to the gravity of the offense. He also reportedly used methamphetamine and had a history of drug abuse dating back to his high school years.
