Get ready for a story that seems straight out of a horror movie but, tragically, it’s all too real. A 16-year-old girl, Julia Grace Egler, is now facing charges so serious, they’re hard to wrap your head around. She’s accused of the cold-blooded killing of her own mother and her mother’s boyfriend in what appears to be a gruesome end to a family dispute.
Living in Palm Bay, Florida, Julia was arrested for the murder of 38-year-old Kelley McCollom and 22-year-old Matthew Szejnrok. The scene was discovered after Julia, in a panicked state, called the police herself. Despite her tears, she spun a tale of a deadly break-in, claiming an intruder had murdered the couple.
Imagine the scene: it’s just after midnight on a calm Sunday, and upon arrival, police find two bodies, both shot, a detail Julia omitted during her frantic 911 call.
The twist in the tale comes when Julia, under questioning, shatters her initial story. She confesses to the police that she waited at home, armed with a .38 special revolver she took from her mother’s bedroom, and executed the horrific plan upon their return.
The root of this horror? Deep-seated conflicts. Julia had been clashing with her mom over her gender transition and her relationship with Matthew, who was significantly older.
As per the police affidavit, Matthew tried to find refuge in a bathroom, only to be followed by Julia, who not only shot but also stabbed him multiple times. Her mother, Kelley, wasn’t spared either; she was met with multiple gunshots right as she entered the house.
The chilling aftermath was captured in a conversation Julia had with the dispatcher. After the killings, she worried about her dogs stepping in blood, revealing a disturbing calmness about the violent scene she had created. When pressed by the dispatcher, she chillingly confirmed, “They’re dead.”
This shocking story continues as Julia Grace Egler has been transferred to a Juvenile Detention Center, awaiting further legal proceedings. It’s a grim reminder of how deeply personal issues can tragically boil over, leading to irrevocable actions.