Photo: FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

71-year-old murders grandson in Florida

Published: 7 Jan 10 07:42 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100107-24409.html

A 71-year-old German woman has been arrested in Florida for murdering her grandson to keep him from growing up with divorced parents in the United States.

The police said on Wednesday the grandmother decided to kill the five-year-old boy during her holiday on St. George Island while her husband had gone shopping. After drowning her grandson in the bathtub, the woman identified as Marianne Bordt from Nufringen near Stuttgart vainly attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself in the ocean.

Upon his return, the grandfather noticed the house’s door was open, but did not immediately find the boy. Eventually his wife came back to the house in wet underwear from the beach.

“She claimed she wanted to take her own life,” said an officer investigating the case.

Only later did the grandfather discover the body of the boy in the bathtub. He drove immediately to an emergency clinic after forcing his wife – who tried to flee – to come along. He then turned her over to the police.

She told police she killed the boy, who has US citizenship, because she couldn’t bear to see him grow up in a broken home after his parents divorced in 2006. According to the authorities, the boy spent most of his time in Georgia with his mother, who is the murderer's daughter.

The grandmother now faces either the death penalty or life in prison should she be convicted of premeditated murder.

DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This Facebook  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

22:05 January 7, 2010 by Joshontour
Sad, I have a 5 year old son myself and could not imagine a situation like this. Since she commited first degree murder in Florida, she will most likely get her death wish. However, lethal injection is no punishment at all compared to what she put that baby through.
22:34 January 7, 2010 by Paul Bowen
she is a very stupid evil women, who cares if parents are devorced you should never take a human life! i think they shud give her the leathal injection, she is not worth tax payers money to spend the rest of her life in prison! I hate her! hope she rotes in hell !!!
03:30 January 8, 2010 by sc123
I totally agree with you Paul Bowen but screw lethal injection, throw her in the ocean like she wanted, in shark infested waters
03:53 January 8, 2010 by Judge Dredd 60
We must never forget the absolute terror and betrayal that filled this little boy's final moments on earth. At the hands of his "protector" no less! Maybe she too will die at the hands of a trusted and loved family member. One can only hope for such justice in its purest form . . .
09:15 January 8, 2010 by shindiggy
i too have a 5 yr old grandson, i cnnot imagine the stupidity flying thru this womans head, its not even a reasonable motive. don't kill her lock her up with her cell walls plastered with the boy's picture, the mother and father's weeping photos at the childs funeral, the dispair of the husband,s face. so everyday this murdering sucubus can be reminded of her devilish deed.
20:27 January 8, 2010 by locally
Children are the future.What a poor,innocent,and harmless child.

She might have killed a Great star.

Who knows who she's going to target next.

Let them put her under lock as she ain't worth being free.

Pray the young soul rests beside the Angels in Heaven.........
15:11 January 9, 2010 by beeker
To put her in a womens prison in Florida for the rest of her life would be hell enough when the other "ladies" found out what she did.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
For comment quoting and other advanced formatting features,
try posting via this article's discussion forum page instead.
Today's headlines
TRAGEDY IN DUISBURG
Photo: DPA

Own party now turns on Duisburg mayor

Embattled Duisburg Mayor Adolf Sauerland faced demands to resign from his own conservative party on Friday over the Love Parade tragedy that left 21 people dead. READ »

Photo: DPA

Germany wins double-gold at European championships

Germany scored double-gold Thursday night at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, taking first place in both the women’s 100 metres sprint and the javelin throw. READ »

Photo: DPA

Skilled migrants urgently needed, says minister

With Germany industry facing a looming skills shortage, Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle revealed on Friday he was planning a major recruitment drive to attract skilled migrants. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Behemoth wine barrel to be tapped after 400 years

The world’s oldest giant wine barrel, held in a Saxony-Anhalt hunting mansion, has been refilled for the first time in its 400-year history and will be filling glasses at a festival beginning on Friday. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Elderly woman robbed by fake relative after weekend reunion

Police are searching for a woman who robbed a retiree after she claimed to be a relative and spent the weekend at her home along with a child and dog, police said on Thursday. READ »

Mothers with their children at the employment centre. Photo: DPA

Single-parent families on the rise in Germany

The number of single-parent families in Germany has risen over the past decade, with nearly one in five mothers and fathers now raising their children on their own, a national “microcensus” revealed Thursday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Weatherman Kachelmann released from jail

Four months after he was arrested for allegedly raping his girlfriend, weatherman Jörg Kachelmann was released from custody on Thursday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Home offices should be tax-deductible, court rules

Teachers, professors and other people who keep a second office at home are in for a windfall after a court ruled Thursday that tax deductions on home offices should be expanded. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

More Society
Highlights
Photo: El Pais
GALLERY »
Remembering the Love Parade victims: They came from across Germany and as far as Australia, Bosnia and China. Fourteen young Germans and seven foreigners died in the hellish crush at the Love Parade in Duisburg on July 24.
Photo:Warner Bros.
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Beyond Oktoberfest: A guide to German beer and wine festivals

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

799 jobs available
469 new jobs this week
6 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest news from The Local in Sweden
Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline
Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Sales managers - country wide
The Local is seeking talented and experienced media sales professionals for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
Flat rate internet + free calls to USA, UK, Canada and more
Surf‘n’Talk service from TKS offers a powerful combination of high-speed Internet connectivity along with an around-the-clock flat for calls to your “home country”. Find out more at the TKS website.
INFO > www.tkscable.com
JOB: Sales position @ Globe Business College Munich
GBCM is currently seeking an experienced sales person to work in the area of student recruitment in Germany and internationally
FULL JOB DETAILS
JOB: Customer Service Agent - Munich
Mr Lodge GmbH, Germany's biggest agency for furnished apartments, is looking for an English native speaker
FULL JOB DETAILS

The Local Europe GmbH
Linienstrasse 214
10119 Berlin
Germany