Florida Boy Strangles Mom To Death In Dispute Over Grade: Sheriff

DEBARY, FL — A Florida teen woke up his sleeping mother and strangled her to death after an argument over grades, then buried her body underneath a fire pit at a nearby church, authorities said. Now he's charged with murder.

An enraged Gregory Logan Ramos, 15, strangled his 46-year-old mother Gail Cleavenger late Thursday or early Friday inside their DeBary home, located near Alicante and Naranja roads, Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters. The teen had become angry when Cleavenger called his father, who was in Seattle for business, and told him about a "D" grade the teen had gotten.

"Mom was furious at him. Mom called Dad who was in Seattle, Washington. There was a conversation, and then shortly after that conversation Mom went to bed. And then [Gregory] entered the room and strangled his mother to death," said Chitwood.

Authorities later clarified that the woman intially survived the attack. The boy, thinking she was dead, retrieved a wheelbarrow from behind the back of the house to dispose of her body. When he returned he realized she was still alive and allegedly strangled her again — this time for about half an hour — until she died, WFTV-TV reported. He then wheeled her body to the mother's car, loaded it into the back and drove her body toward Daytona Beach.

But, thinking better of that decision, the teen drove back to the house, grabbed a shovel and drove her to River City Church early Friday, Chitwood said. He then buried her underneath a fire pit.

The teen then tried to cover-up the killing, enlisting the help of two friends to stage a burglary, authorities said. The teens made it seem like someone stole computer, a PlayStation 4, a rifle and other things.

The tight-knit trio were classmates at nearby University High School.

The teen went to school that day and dialed 911 when he got home to report the staged break-in, authorities said.

"He got home, and made, in his words, a "Grammy-winning phone call to 911 to talk about this horrible incident that did not really occur," said Chitwood.

The boy said his mom was missing and her van was still running in the driveway. But Chitwood said his story never added up and his story soon began to unravel.

Gregory was charged with murder after confessing to what really happened, authorities said Saturday. Deputies found the shovel and broom used to bury Cleavenger and found her body at the church early Saturday.

Chitwood called the case one of the saddest, most disturbing he's ever seen.

"I have a feeling this is a case we'll be hearing about for years to come," he said. "All our hearts break for this family. The deputies and detectives who worked through the night and into the morning gave this case absolutely everything they had, and I hope the family knows that Gail has all of us fighting for justice for her. God bless Gail Cleavenger and all who knew and loved her."

The two friends, both 17-year-olds, are also in custody and face multiple charges.

Photo credit: Volusia County Sheriff's Office