Man accused of killing young mother, leaving her child in hot car in 2021 goes on trial in Orlando
Doujon Griffiths, 26, is on trial in Orlando for the 2021 deaths of Massania Malcom and her 1-year-old daughter, Jordania, as well as the attempted murder of Malcom’s boyfriend.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A 26-year-old man accused of killing a mother, shooting her boyfriend, and leaving their 1-year-old daughter in a hot car to die is now on trial in Orlando for the 2021 incident.
Doujon Griffiths is facing multiple charges, including premeditated first-degree murder, first-degree murder with a firearm, and attempted first-degree murder.
The State Attorney’s Office said Griffiths shot and killed 20-year-old Massania Malcom after shooting her boyfriend.
Investigators said Malcom’s 1-year-old daughter, Jordania, was left in a hot car and was found dead alongside her mother’s body two days later in a parking lot on Lake Ellenor Drive.
According to investigators, Griffiths had been staying at the couple’s apartment. They say the couple had taken him in after he became homeless.
Investigators said tension may have grown between Malcom and Griffiths over his lack of contribution to the household.
On the morning of Sept. 7, 2021, the couple reportedly told Griffiths he had to leave and were driving him to a bus stop when he allegedly shot them. Malcom’s boyfriend survived and shared details of the incident with investigators.
Prosecutors began jury selection Monday and plan to present those details to a 12-person jury.
Before selection, Griffiths’ defense team requested to sequester the jury, as the trial is expected to last all week, but the motion was denied.
The defense and prosecution also discussed whether prosecutors could show a photo of Jordania during the trial.
Judge Vincent Chiu allowed the use of a single identification photo of the child, which shows her face and shoulder area, but gave prosecutors specific instructions.
“I will caution the state to be mindful of how long that image is up,” Chiu said.