A Palm Beach County woman has been arrested for first-degree murder following the death of her 97-year-old mother. Martha Jo Blake, 66, was arrested yesterday after detectives investigated the death of Patricia Blake, whose body was found at their home on the 2800 block of Ashley Drive West. An autopsy determined the death was a homicide, prompting further investigation by the violent crimes division, CBS12 reported.
WPBF reported that Blake was arrested at the Cresthaven Villas, a 55-and-older community. She is being held without bond, and a motion for pretrial detention was granted during her first court appearance. Her next court date is scheduled for January 27, and she will be represented by the public defender’s office.
Records show Patricia Blake’s husband passed away in 2009, and the condo where the incident occurred was sold to her daughter in 2022. Martha Jo Blake has past involvement in two domestic violence injunctions from 2018. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released the arrest report.
