‘Greatly loved’ second-grade Polk County teacher stabbed to death by son was ‘special part’ of school family

Sara Filips
·2 min read
6

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County Public Schools is mourning the loss of one of their second-grade teachers who was fatally stabbed to death by her son at her Frostproof home.

Elvia Espinoza, 46, was a teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary. The school has made phone calls to the parents of her second-grade students to make them aware of her passing.

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In a Sunday statement, Polk Public Schools said they will have several grief counselors at the elementary school on Monday, as well as counselors at Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Middle-Senior, where Elvia worked as a secretary. All Polk County students also have access to free telehealth services.

“Her students and colleagues greatly loved her, and her sudden, unexpected death is a devastating loss. She was a very special part of her school family,” the school district said. “We ask everyone to keep her family and loved ones in your prayers.”

On Sunday, one neighbor of Elvia spoke out about the sudden loss.

“Hard to believe, I mean who does that to a parent, I mean especially obviously he was in school, and I am sure she worked hard to get him there, as a parent over the years,” Chris Steckel said. “To find out he had a great relationship with her and does something like that, is unbelievable,”

On Saturday, 21-year-old Emmanuel Espinoza, a pre-med student attending the University of Florida, drove to his mother’s home and stabbed her to death.

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Emmanuel told the 911 operator that he wanted to kill her for a few years because “she got on [his] nerves.” When officials asked about his relationship with her, he rated it an 8 out of 10.

“She was a wonderful human being, a great life taken way to short, very giving, very friendly,” Steckel added. “There is no reason why anyone should receive that kind of harm, especially her. She is the last person on Earth anyone would want to harm.”

He has been booked into jail and charged with first-degree murder, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

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