A Florida woman faces life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murdering and robbing her husband’s 88-year-old great-grandfather so she could flee to Michigan with her boyfriend.
Britney Andrus, 29, was convicted of second-degree murder, burglary, and grand theft of a motor vehicle on Friday in the 2020 beating death of James Little at his Sebring home. Her boyfriend, Travis Best, 25, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and is said to have testified against Andrus during her trial.
Andrus and Best were staying in the mother-in-law suite attached to Little’s house. Her husband was incarcerated at the time of the murder. In the days leading up to the murder, Andrus and Best devised a plan to steal from Little’s home, including his car and jewelry from his wife, who died just a month earlier, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit. According to police, they planned to travel to Michigan to live with her grandmother.
On October 22, 2020, shortly after 1:30 p.m., Andrus ran to a neighbor’s house, claiming she had just discovered Little unconscious in his bedroom. He was rushed to the hospital and died five days later.
Although it took a year to arrest Andrus and Best for the murder, investigators suspected them almost right away.
Little’s bedroom was disorganized, with open drawers and missing jewelry boxes. His car and wallet, which contained approximately $1,500 in cash, had also been stolen. In addition, cops discovered a missing safe that was hidden and only close family members were aware of.
“Based on the scene, it was evident the victim was awoken by an intruder(s), was struck multiple times, and laid hurt in the residence for some time before EMS and law enforcement being notified,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also stated that “blood evidence” could be found throughout the room. An autopsy determined that Little died from blunt force trauma to the head. The suspects struck Little 12 times with an unknown object before abandoning him to die while stealing his belongings. Best spent some of the money from Little’s wallet on methamphetamine.
Detectives pieced together surveillance footage showing the couple driving around town in Little’s car and spending his money. Investigators also spoke with some of Andrus’ friends, who claimed she showed up with blood on her shirt. Andrus stated, “I don’t know what I did” and that the blood on her shirt was not hers. She then added, “It was as if he was asking for it anyway.”
According to a courtroom report from the Highlands News-Sun, Best testified against Andrus, claiming that killing Little was her idea.
“I told her I wanted nothing to do with it,” Best reportedly stated. “It was a big argument, I packed a suitcase and left.”
Little had the items in the suitcase stolen. They then went to a friend’s house, where Andrus confessed to murdering Little, Best told the jury.
“She stated, ‘I did it, I did it.’ I thought she had killed this man. “I saw blood on her collar,” he explained.
Andrus is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15.
Little’s son told the News-Sun that he was satisfied with the outcome of the case.
“I am extremely gratified by the verdict,” he told reporters. “It was something the family was waiting for for five years.”
