Suspect accused of murdering his mother in Eagle Lake: PCSO

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) has arrested a suspect tied to a death investigation in Eagle Lake.

During a press conference, Sheriff Grady Judd said 21-year-old Gibson Nash was arrested in the murder investigation of his mother, 56-year-old Margaret Chu Dufour.

Deputies first became aware of Nash while investigating multiple traffic crashes on U.S. 27 on the morning of July 21. Around 7 a.m., deputies responded to a hit-and-run crash, and the vehicle, a blue 2022 BMW SUV, fled the scene. As it drove away from deputies, it struck another vehicle and continued fleeing before becoming disabled after striking a third vehicle.

PCSO said the driver of the BMW was Nash. Nash was injured in the crash and taken to a local hospital, where he was sedated and intubated. Nine victims were involved in the crash, and three of them were transported to the hospital to be treated for their minor injuries.

Investigators learned the BMW was registered to Dufour, and a deputy attempted to make contact with her at her home in Eagle Lake. Dufour did not respond at the home, so deputies spoke to neighbors who said they heard two loud noises at the home around 4:30 a.m.

PCSO deputies walked around the home, noticed broken glass at the rear sliding door, and a shovel inside the home. When they entered, they found Dufour in the front room, dead from apparent blunt force facial trauma.

Investigators began looking at Nash as a suspect in the murder since he was also the driver of the BMW. Family members told investigators that Nash had a history of violence and mental illness, reportedly suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They also told deputies Nash had previously been arrested for domestic violence, including an incident where he charged at Dufour with a knife.

On July 14, Dufour drove to Tennessee to get Nash after he bonded out of jail and brought him to Eagle Lake to live with her.

PCSO documented bruising and blood samples from Nash while he was in the hospital and found the blood matched his mother, Dufour.

On Aug. 3, Nash was extubated and removed from sedation. He was then arrested and charged with first-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury.