Audrey Booth, a 70-year-old White woman from Pensacola, Florida, was remembered by some as a librarian and teacher. Her life came to a violent end inside her own home on the evening of Sunday, July 28, 2024.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the situation after receiving information from the Pensacola Police Department. A man living out of state had called police to report a disturbing conversation with his longtime friend, Christopher Booth, who had allegedly
confessed to killing his mother, Audrey. Deputies were dispatched to Audrey’s home in the 900-block of Fremont Avenue around 8:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, deputies saw bullet holes in the windows of the residence. After they knocked repeatedly, Christopher Booth, 44, came to the door and said he had been asleep. He initially claimed no one else was home, but soon after, he held out his hands and told the deputies, "just go ahead and put the bracelets on me," stating he would not answer questions. Inside, authorities found Audrey Booth deceased in her bed. She had sustained at least one gunshot wound and over a dozen stab wounds.
Investigators recovered an AR-15 rifle and a spent shell casing at the scene. According to the friend who made the initial call, Christopher claimed he shot his mother because she had threatened to kill his former partner. He allegedly told the friend that he shot her in the face with the rifle, but when she "didn't die," he stabbed her.
Christopher Booth, the victim's son, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. His attorney later entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. As of July 2024, he remains held in the Escambia County Jail without bond while awaiting trial.
