Martha Jo Blake, 66, faces first-degree murder charges in Florida for allegedly killing her 97-year-old mother, Patricia Blake, on December 26, 2025, in West Palm Beach. Patricia, who had Parkinson’s disease and a thyroid disorder, was found dead in their shared home, with autopsy evidence pointing to homicide via suffocation or strangulation rather than natural causes. Martha confessed to police that she acted at her mother’s repeated request for “death with dignity,” after they were denied assisted suicide options by a Maine doctor and lacked lethal pills.
Autopsy Evidence
The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s findings included no post-mortem blood pooling in Patricia’s nose—suggesting something covered her face—plus petechiae in her eyes, cheeks, and mouth, internal bleeding, a fresh neck fracture, and hemorrhaging on both sides of the neck. Body cam footage showed Martha insisting on staying near her mother’s body, and a search revealed potential evidence like socks in a garbage bag. These signs contradicted Martha’s initial claim of a natural death.
Confession Details
As Patricia’s caregiver for five years, Martha described discussions about ending life due to Patricia’s desire not to live, but no legal avenues worked. After Miranda rights, Martha stuck to her story of helping her mother, leading to her arrest without bond at Main Detention Center. Her next court date is January 25, 2026. This case highlights tensions around euthanasia where it’s illegal, like Florida, absent terminal illness criteria.
