John Jefferson
Inset: John Aylor. Background: Bodycam footage from Aylor’s arrest after he allegedly killed his mother (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida man is behind bars for allegedly breaking into his mother’s home through the dog door to steal from her and stabbing her to death while two kids — including his own daughter — were in the house.
John “Jake” Aylor, 37, is facing charges of first-degree murder while engaged in burglary and armed burglary in the death of his 64-year-old mother Julie Aylor. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said John Aylor broke into his mother’s home in Brandon, in eastern Tampa, shortly after 4:30 a.m. Monday.
Officials say that Aylor had a history of entering his mother’s home without permission.
“He has done so on several occasions,” said Chronister. “He will break in in the middle of the night and steal whatever he can get his hands on. This is a mother who has been taking care of his child since she was born 10 years ago. So as he’s been in and out of jail since 2003, she’s been the caregiver. She’s been the person who his daughter can rely on as her guardian, as the person who makes sure that she has the basic essentials in life.”
Chronister said John Aylor was upset there was nothing in the home he deemed worthy to steal, so he armed himself with a knife and walked into his mother’s room where an argument ensued. He then allegedly stabbed his mother once in the chest. His 10-year-old daughter and the victim’s 16-year-old granddaughter, who was also staying in the home, woke up to their grandmother’s screams for help.
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“She’s now begging her son, the very person who just fatally stabbed her, as she’s dying, and pleading for him to help her,” Chronister said. “‘Jake, help me. Jake, help me.’ That’s what these poor children wake up to last night. She’s panicking. She’s dying. She needs help, desperately.”
Julie Aylor then crawled to the teenager’s room to get help, Chronister said. The teenager called 911 and cops rushed to the home. Paramedics arrived and pronounced Julie Aylor dead on scene.
John Aylor ran away before cops got there. A concerned citizen called cops on Tuesday about his location and they arrested him around 4 a.m. in the 900 block of Marjorie Avenue in Brandon. Deputies took him to the Hillsborough County Jail where he remains without bond.
According to Chronister, John Aylor is addicted to drugs and has been arrested over 20 times since 2003. Arrests include grand theft of a motor vehicle, felony petit theft and possession of a controlled substance.
“Today, we have taken a significant step towards justice with the arrest of the individual responsible for the tragic and violent stabbing that took the life of an innocent woman,” Chronister said in a statement. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family during this challenging time. We remain committed to ensuring that those who commit such heinous acts are held accountable.”
Tampa Fox affiliate WTVT spoke with Julie Aylor’s 16-year-old granddaughter, who was in the home at the time and called 911.
“She just wanted me to help her,” Jaylynn Blair told the outlet with tears streaming down her face. “I couldn’t help her.”
Julie Aylor’s daughter Kristina Blair said she can’t forgive her brother.
“He acted like he had no remorse, he didn’t care that he killed my mom,” she told the outlet. “He took my mom from not only me — my daughter, grandkids, great-grandkids, sisters, brothers. She loved everybody. She took care of everybody.”
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