PALATKA, Fla. -- Action News has uncovered new information in the case of a 16-year-old accused of stabbing his mother's boyfriend to death.
Jeremy Thomas is 16 years old. He's charged with killing his mother's boyfriend. But Action News uncovered Tomas faced a lot of battles before police say he stabbed Stephen Blair Thursday morning. In fact the stabbing wasn't even the first time police were at the home that day.
Police showed up at 5am after a call about Blair and Thomas' mother fighting. Blair left, but showed up again hours later, picked a fight with Thomas' mom and that's when police say the teen stabbed him. But Action News has uncovered a long history of arrests in the teen's family.
His mother, Rhonda Todd, has been arrested five times since 1990. Her most recent arrest was in June for sale of a narcotic.
The stabbing victim, Stephen Blair, has been arrested 14 times since 1995. The crimes include battery and domestic battery. He just recently got out of jail.
Janet Johnson is a local attorney whose handled cases like this one. She thinks the Department of Children and Families should've stepped in a long time ago to help the teen. "This child needed the protection of child protective services," said Johnson.
A spokesperson for DCF wouldn't go on camera because of the pending investigation, but tells Action News they'll be looking into this case.
For now, the teen is facing up to life in prison for something one attorney thinks could've been prevented. "He should've never been put in a position where he feels as a child he as to protect is mother," said Johnson.
Police do say there is another teenager in the home, Thomas' 14 year old sister. DCF couldn't comment on whether she'll be removed.
Thomas is charged with second degree murder. He was released into the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
