Police say daughter killed mother after request for medically assisted death was rejected
A Florida woman has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder after allegedly suffocating her elderly mother, later telling authorities the two had discussed ending her life after a doctor denied a request for medically assisted suicide.
Patricia Blake, 97, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease and a thyroid disorder, was found dead inside her family home in Palm Beach. Her daughter, 66-year-old Martha Jo Blake, initially told deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office that she last saw her mother alive at around 10 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Patricia’s body was taken for an autopsy, which revealed injuries consistent with homicide. According to investigators, she suffered a broken neck and eye hemorrhaging associated with suffocation. By the time her body reached the medical examiner, her skin had turned purple around the nose, indicating that something had been placed over her face before or during her death.
As the investigation continued, a deputy reviewing body camera footage from the initial response noticed a quarter-sized red mark on the side of Martha Jo’s neck. Authorities later obtained a search warrant and returned to the home, where Martha Jo was still present with friends.
Deputies say she then confessed that she and her mother had been having ongoing conversations about “death with dignity” for about a year and a half. According to the sheriff’s office, Patricia’s doctor, who was based in Maine, denied their request for physician-assisted suicide.
Under Maine law, a person must have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less to qualify for assisted dying. While Parkinson’s disease can lead to severe and life-threatening complications, it is not legally defined as a terminal illness under the statute.
After the request was denied, Martha Jo allegedly told investigators that she and her mother explored other options. She said they discussed suicide by pills, but abandoned the idea because they did not have access to medication that would be lethal.
During the search of the property, deputies discovered a pair of white calf-length socks inside a shopping bag that had been placed in a garbage bag on the front porch. The socks were collected as evidence.
Martha Jo Blake was arrested and booked on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with her mother’s death. In Florida, the charge carries the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The case raises complex questions around end-of-life care, assisted suicide laws, and the limits families face when loved ones suffer from debilitating but non-terminal illnesses. Authorities have not commented on whether additional charges or mitigating factors may be considered as the investigation continues.
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