A Pasco County teacher has been charged with murder after allegedly strangling her six-year-old son to death, telling detectives that she “snapped” before killing him, according to an affidavit from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say 40-year-old Justine Mroz called 911 shortly before 10 a.m. on October 19, telling the dispatcher she had killed her son and was attempting to take her own life.
Deputies arrived at her home to find Mroz with self-inflicted cuts and blood on her arms. Her son was found unresponsive on the floor and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Investigators said the boy had been diagnosed with autism at a young age. Mroz told detectives that he had been watching television when he began hitting himself and banging his head on the floor.
When she tried to restrain him, the child reportedly began biting and hitting her, striking her in the face. Mroz claimed she became overwhelmed and “snapped,” kneeling over the boy and choking him with both hands until he stopped moving. The affidavit states she continued to strangle him even as he fought back. Once he was lifeless, she left the room, retrieved razor blades, and cut her wrists before calling 911, as per WFLA.
Afterward, she sent a text message to family members apologizing, but did not include any other details. Detectives said Mroz revealed that she had purchased razor blades two days earlier and had attempted suicide the day before the killing. She reportedly made that attempt before picking up her son from his father’s house on Saturday afternoon.
Mroz appeared in court on Monday, where prosecutors requested she be held without bond. She will remain in custody at the Pasco County Jail until her pretrial hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, October 27. Pasco County School officials confirmed that Mroz was employed by the district but did not specify her role or the school where she worked.
The tragic case has shocked the local community, with investigators describing it as a deeply distressing domestic incident. Authorities have not released further details about the ongoing investigation, and counseling resources are being offered to students and staff affected by the news.
Mroz now faces serious charges as prosecutors prepare their case. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate what led to the deadly outburst that ended the life of her young son.
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.