LAND O’LAKES, Fla. (WFLA) — A teacher from Pasco County accused of killing her son on Sunday told detectives that she “snapped” before strangling the 6-year-old to death, according to an affidavit from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.
Justine Mroz, 40, called 911 just before 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 and told the dispatcher she killed her son and was trying to kill herself.
Officers arrived to find Mroz with cuts and blood on her arms and the boy laying on the floor unresponsive. He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The woman told police that her son, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age, was watching TV when he started banging his head on the floor and hitting himself. When she tried to restrain him, he started hitting and biting her and struck her in the face.
Mroz told detectives that she got angry, “snapped,” and grabbed him. The affidavit said she knelt over his body and began choking him with both hands, and continued when he tried to fight back. She told police she did so until the boy was lifeless.
At that point she left the room, obtained razor blades, cut her wrists and called 911. She then sent a text message to family members saying she was sorry, but didn’t include any other information.
During an interview with detectives, she revealed that she had purchased razor blades just two days prior and attempted suicide on Saturday before picking her son up from his father’s house that afternoon.
Mroz had her first court appearance on Monday, where the state asked that she be held with no bond. She will be held at the jail until her pretrial hearing, which is set for next Monday, Oct. 27.
Pasco County School officials confirmed that Mroz worked for the district in some capacity, but didn’t say at what school or what her specific duties were.
Pasco County Schools can confirm that Justine Mroz is employed by Pasco County Schools. She has been arrested by the 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.
Jessica Meek, public information officer, District School Board of Pasco County
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