Police say the two had been arguing since September but that a particularly heated argument caused a Florida teen to murder his mother Christmas Eve. Brandon and Sharon Aydelott had apparently spent several hours in a war of words before the stabbing occurred.
Brandon Aydelott loved baseball. He was a varsity player at Gulf Breeze High School who also played in the Golden Gloves competition circuit, which regularly saw scouts from Division 1 schools. The 17-year-old senior could throw a 99 mph fastball -- although he averaged about 80 -- and also played shortstop. Police say a baseball bat played a part in the murder.
Sharon was a Pensacola native and a single mom. She attended high school and college in Alabama and moved back to become a beloved comprehensive science teacher at Holley-Navarre Middle School. Her body was found around 6 p.m. Tuesday by a friend who stopped by the house on 1119 Crane Cove Blvd. in Gulf Breeze. The visitor first noticed a front door that was open and smeared with blood before coming across the deceased.
Brandon was found at a nearby home, where he had been staying on and off for several months because of his tumultuous home life. The 6'3", 200-pound athlete peacefully surrendered and confessed to police how he beat his mom with a bat, cut her throat, and ultimately stabbed her in the eye. It is unclear what their final argument was about.
Brandon has been charged with first-degree murder by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and is being held without bond.
Sharon's former students are in shock about her tragic death. They remember an impeccable sense of humor and a willingness to offer guidance to any student who needed it.
"This is just so sad. She was my favourite teacher and helped me so much. I can't believe the son she loved so much and always talked about could do this," Selina Franklin commented on an article from the Navarre Press. "She will be greatly missed."
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