DENISE Hallowell was brutally murdered by her adoptive son in what investigators believe was a plot to get access to her estate.
Carlos Hallowell is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Who was Denise Hallowell?
Denise Hallowell was a school teacher in Marion County, Florida.
When Carlos was 4 years old, she adopted him from Guatemala and raised him as if he were her own.
"From early childhood to early adolescence, [Carlos Hallowell] was a happy child," Judge Richard "Ric" Howard said, via the Citrus County Chronicle.
"Ms. Hallowell funded the defendant’s college savings account, and covered all bills for the family."
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She also adopted a boy by the name of Angel from Honduras, according to CBS 12.
At this time, additional details on Denise's personal life are unclear.
What happened to her?
When Carlos turned 11, he began experimenting with alcohol and drugs.
As a result, he was expelled from school in January 2019.
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In an attempt to help her son get his life on a better path, she began to crack down on his behavior, but, prosecutors argued that this decision ultimately led to her death.
In July 2019, at the age of 17, Carlos hit his mother in the head with an axe while she slept.
In an attempt to cover up his tracks, he called 911 and ditched the weapon in a nearby pond, but he was eventually caught.
Defense attorneys argued that their client suffered because of his mother's parenting, but prosecutors spun a different story, arguing that he killed her so he could get his hands on her estate.
"The defendant’s murder of his mother was not a result of any sudden outburst of emotion or aberrant thought," Howard said, via the Citrus County Chronicle.
"Rather, it is and was the culmination of his desire to acquire his mother’s real estate, cars and other property.”
Carlos was a minor at the time of Denise's death, but because of the severity of the case, prosecutors opted to try him as an adult.
Two years later, at the age of 19, he was found guilty by a jury of premeditated murder.
Who is Carlos Hallowell?
Carlos is a convicted murderer and the son of Denise Hallowell.
During his sentencing, he appeared to show remorse, asking the judge "for justice for my mom, and mercy for me," according to the Citrus County Chronicle.
"Although she’s not with us, I know she’s listening," he said.
"Mom, I’m so very sorry. Words can’t describe how I feel right now, how much I miss you, how sorry I am for what I’ve done and everything I’ve done throughout my entire life with you ... I love you so much.”
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While he might've taken responsibility, the judge still sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
However, he will be eligible for a sentence review after serving 25 years, the Citrus County Chronicle notes.
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