Shocking doorstep video captures the terrifying moment before a beloved Florida elementary school teacher was murdered by her pre-med son.
Emmanuel Espinoza, 21, was seen hiding a knife behind his back on Saturday as he tried to open 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza’s door.
The student, wearing light blue jeans and a navy blue shirt, casually approached him with one hand hidden behind his back.
‘He knocked on the door and his beautiful mother was so excited to see her son. She opened the door,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said as he played the footage at a news conference.
Judd said Emmanuel burst into the house and began stabbing his mother as soon as the door was opened.
A shocking doorstep video captures the terrifying moment before Elvia Espinoza, 46, a beloved Florida elementary school teacher, was allegedly murdered by her pre-med son
Elvia Espinoza, 46, a beloved Florida elementary school teacher, was allegedly stabbed to death by her pre-med student son
Emmanuel Espinoza (pictured), 21, allegedly stabbed his mother more than 70 times without saying a word
Emmanuel told investigators that because of his biology classes, he knew where to stab his mother for maximum effect, Sheriff Judd said.
He was traveling to attend a family event when his mother. According to authorities, Elvia asked if he wanted to stay at her house for the weekend.
He arrived at the second grade teacher’s house around 2 p.m., and when she opened the door, he allegedly stabbed her “over 70 times” without saying a word, while Elvia screamed “many, many, many times,” Judd said.
The sheriff’s office is waiting for the release of the audio from the home.
“We talked to him and he admitted, ‘You know I’ve wanted to kill my mother for many, many years because she got on my nerves,’” Judd said.
Investigators discovered that Emmanuel stabbed his mother more often when she tried to get up.
He stabbed his mother again more when he noticed Elvia’s hands were still moving, Judd said.
“As soon as he killed her, he called 911 and immediately confessed to the 911 operators.”
The sheriff said they asked Emmanuel about his relationship with his mother and he said he really loved her, but she annoyed him so he decided to kill her.
“He told us again that he loved his mother,” Judd said during Monday’s briefing.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Emmanuel (second from left) admitted that he wanted to kill his mother (second from right) for years because “she got on his nerves.”
Polk County Public Schools confirmed to DailyMail.com that Elvia was a second-grade teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary
Emmanuel allegedly told detectives in his confession that he cut his hand on the knife while stabbing his mother.
“And as he stood at the sink, washing himself and the knife, he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin, for the cut on his hand. But he noticed she was dead,” the sheriff said.
Judd said Emmanuel has cooperated with investigators and is charged with first-degree murder.
“And as he stood at the sink, washing himself and the knife, he wanted to ask his mother for the Neosporin, for the cut on his hand. But he noticed she was dead,” the sheriff said.
Polk County Public Schools confirmed to DailyMail.com that Elvia was a second-grade teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary.
“Her students and colleagues loved her deeply, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family,” the district said.
The school has called the parents of all its students and will make community grief counselors available on Monday.
Online tributes are pouring in for the beloved mother, teacher and community member.
The sheriff said they asked Emmanuel about his relationship with his mother and he said he really loved her, but she annoyed him so he decided to kill her.
Online tributes are pouring in for the beloved mother, teacher and community member
University of Florida medical student Emmanuel Espinoza (pictured) was driving from Gainesville to Frostproof when he decided to kill his mother
‘Elvia always had a smile. I loved her family and her children. I was proud to be a teacher and worked hard for it. She was one of my best students, a colleague and a fellow teacher,” said Nancy Murray DeMarco.
“Elvia Espinoza was the sweetest person to me and my family, she was always cheerful and friendly,” Sherry Dacres said.
‘So many memories of chatting outside at the end of a long day. She truly loved teaching and was so proud of being a grandmother. What a sad day in our little town, rest in heaven my dear friend.”
‘Elvia, there are no adequate words to describe what we feel. You were such a kind, genuine, loving and caring person that knowing you are gone makes the world a little bleaker,” said Monica Alvarado.
‘I have always admired how you poured your heart into everything and everyone around you. We are all incredibly devastated. Thank you Elvia for loving us and being everyone’s biggest cheerleader. I love you and you are greatly missed.”