Gibson Nash, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder in Polk County, Florida, after authorities found his mother, 56-year-old nurse Margaret Chu Dufour, beaten and strangled in her home.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation followed a series of troubling events culminating on the morning of July 21, 2026. Just before 7 a.m., Nash was involved in multiple traffic crashes while driving his mother’s blue BMW SUV. Paramedics noted blood on Nash’s hands, raising questions since the crashes themselves did not appear to be bloody.

About a month prior, deputies had responded to a disturbance at the home related to a moving company, with Sheriff Grady Judd stating the movers tried to upcharge Dufour. Deputies later entered the house using a key found on the front porch and discovered Dufour’s body.

Nash’s mother had recently bonded him out of jail and relocated to Florida to obtain mental health assistance for him. Despite her efforts, Nash allegedly beat and strangled her to death.

Sheriff Judd described the sequence of events as puzzling and emphasized the dedication of deputies in handling the case.

Sources