A Florida woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing of her husband’s elderly great-grandfather. Prosecutors said the crime was part of a plan to steal money and valuables before fleeing to Michigan with her boyfriend.
The woman, Britney Andrus, 29, received the life sentence on Wednesday for the 2020 murder of 88-year-old James Little at his home in Sebring, Florida. A court previously found her guilty of second-degree murder, burglary, and grand theft of a motor vehicle in July.
Boyfriend Testified Against Her in Court
Andrus’ boyfriend, Tyler Best, 25, was also involved in the crime. He earlier pleaded guilty to the same charges and agreed to testify against her during the trial.
In January, Best was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the case.
During the trial, Best told the court that the plan to kill Little came from Andrus. He claimed he initially argued with her and said he wanted nothing to do with the crime.
However, evidence later showed that the couple continued to work together after the attack and used the victim’s belongings and money.
Victim Remembered as a Kind and Helpful Man
At the sentencing hearing, James Little’s grandson, Joshua Little, spoke about the devastating impact the crime had on the family.
He described his grandfather as a kind man who loved helping others.
Joshua said his grandfather was 88 years old and living in the later years of his life when the attack happened. He also expressed sadness thinking about how alone his grandfather may have felt in his final moments.
According to Joshua, the crime was not only a murder but also a theft of dignity and life.
Defense Cited Troubled Childhood
During the hearing, Andrus’ defense attorney said she had struggled with mental health issues since childhood.
The lawyer explained that she experienced severe trauma when she was only five years old after discovering her mother’s murdered body.
However, prosecutors argued that the crime itself showed why Andrus posed a serious danger to others.
Prosecutor John Kromholz told the court that the case was about the violent killing of a vulnerable elderly man while she was under the influence of drugs.
Couple Planned Robbery Before the Killing
Investigators said Andrus and Best were living in a small suite attached to Little’s home at the time of the murder. Andrus’ husband was in jail during that period.
Police said the couple planned to steal valuables from the home, including jewelry that belonged to Little’s wife, who had died just a month earlier.
Their plan also included stealing his car and traveling to Michigan, where Andrus hoped to live with her grandmother.
How the Crime Unfolded
On October 22, 2020, around 1:30 p.m., Andrus ran to a neighbor’s home claiming she had found Little unconscious in his bedroom.
Little was taken to a hospital but died five days later from his injuries.
Investigators later discovered that the bedroom had been ransacked. Drawers were open, jewelry boxes were missing, and the victim’s car and wallet had been stolen.
His wallet reportedly contained around $1,500 in cash.
Police also noticed that a hidden safe was missing from the house. Detectives said only close family members would likely have known about the safe’s location.
Autopsy Revealed Brutal Attack
An autopsy determined that James Little died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Investigators said he had been struck about 12 times with an unknown object while lying in bed. Detectives believe the attackers left him injured for some time before calling for help.
Blood evidence was also found throughout the bedroom.
Evidence Led Police to the Suspects
Although it took about a year for police to arrest the suspects, investigators quickly began to suspect Andrus and Best.
Surveillance footage showed the couple driving around town in Little’s car and using his money.
Friends also told investigators that Andrus arrived at their home with blood on her shirt shortly after the attack. According to witnesses, she reportedly said she didn’t know what she had done.
Best also testified that Andrus later admitted to the killing, saying “I did it.”
Police later confirmed that some of the stolen money was used by Best to purchase methamphetamine.
Family Waited Years for Justice
After the verdict and sentencing, members of the victim’s family expressed relief that the case had finally reached a conclusion.
James Little’s son said the family had waited five years for justice and was satisfied with the court’s decision.
The case brought an emotional end to a long legal process for the family, who lost their elderly loved one in a violent and senseless crime.
