Wichita mom ‘unlawfully and intentionally’ killed 16-year-old son, prosecutors allege
A Wichita mother who killed her 16-year-old son last week has been charged with second-degree murder.
Prosecutors allege Tesha L. Florence “unlawfully and intentionally” shot Robert Florence on Oct. 9, two days before he died at a Wichita hospital.
Wichita police last week said the teen was shot once inside of an apartment at Claremont Apartment Homes, 9100 E. Harry. His mother called 911 around 8:12 a.m. Oct. 9, saying “she shot her son,” Wichita police have said. Tesha and Robert Florence lived in the apartment and were the only ones home when the shooting happened, police said.
Authorities did not immediately discuss a motive in the aftermath of the shooting. Charging documents filed in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday also give no clues about what preceded the violence. Additional details are likely contained in a probable cause affidavit, which is expected to be released in the coming weeks following requests to unseal it.
Robert Florence died Friday morning.
Tesha Florence, 46, was arrested last week after the shooting and is currently in the Sedgwick County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $1.2 million, an online log of inmates shows. She made a first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday afternoon, where she was appointed a public defender and told her next court date would be Oct. 24, according to court records.
The public defender did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday.
Staff at Wichita Northwest High School, where Robert Florence was a junior, told The Eagle over the weekend that he was a gifted artist and jokester who enjoyed playing basketball and often “tried to make others laugh.”
“People were really captivated by him and thought he was really funny,” said Sunny Overholt, who teaches a printmaking art class that the teen took. ”I think his personality came through in his artwork. … He had a really playful spirit, loved to play games and joke around with his friends.”
A GoFundMe set up by family members to raise money for funeral expenses describes Robert as a “cherished son, sibling, and friend, who touched the lives of so many with his kindness, humor, and generous spirit.” The fundraiser can be found at shorturl.at/UOp6t.
In addition to the murder count, prosecutors on Tuesday also filed aggravated burglary and aggravated assault charges against Tesha Florence tied to a March 20 incident where police said she used a gun to threaten her ex-husband and his girlfriend.
Contributing: Michael Stavola of The Wichita Eagle
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 2:49 PM.
