LAND O’LAKES, Fla. – The Land O’Lakes woman accused of killing her 6-year-old son made her first court appearance on Monday afternoon.
Courtesy: Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
A judge ordered Justine Mroz, 40, to be held with no bond in connection with her son’s death.Â
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Mroz, who has been charged with second-degree murder, was arrested on Sunday night, just hours after she reported her son’s death in the area of Drexel Road.
The backstory:
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office says Mroz called 911 just before 10 a.m. on Sunday and allegedly told dispatchers she killed her son and was trying to kill herself. Deputies said the boy was airlifted to the hospital, where he died.
According to court filings, Mroz told investigators that there was a violent incident involving her son, who had autism. She allegedly admitted to investigators that she “snapped.”
What they’re saying:
Pasco County Schools released a statement, saying that Mroz worked with the district as an itinerant, not as a classroom teacher.
“Pasco County Schools can confirm that Justine Mroz is employed by Pasco County Schools. She has been arrested by Pasco Sheriff’s Office and will not be on any school campus. In accordance with Pasco County Schools policy and employee privacy laws, no additional information will be provided at this time. On behalf of the entire Pasco County Schools family, we extend our deepest condolences to all who are grieving. We are deploying crisis teams to provide care and support to those affected by this heartbreaking event.”
What’s next:
The judge set Mroz’s pre-trial detention hearing for October 27. The state said it intends to ask for Mroz to be held behind bars until her trial.
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The Source: Information for this story is from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Schools.