Coral Springs man faces attempted murder charge after police say he attacked his mother with a frying pan and tried to smother her
Coral Springs, Florida – A Coral Springs man has been charged with attempted murder after police say he brutally attacked his mother inside their home, using a frying pan and attempting to smother her during a violent struggle earlier this month. The case has drawn significant attention due to the disturbing details outlined in the arrest report and the statements the suspect reportedly gave to authorities.
According to investigators, the incident happened on December 8 while 53-year-old Keith Evan Woodward and his mother were inside the home searching for a caretaker’s phone number. Court documents list Woodward as living near the 10300 block of Northwest 29th Street, though the exact location of the assault was redacted for safety reasons.
Detectives said the attack began when Woodward armed himself with a large frying pan and entered his mother’s bedroom while she was lying on her bed. Officers wrote in their report that he struck her in the head “in an attempt to kill her,” an action that immediately escalated into a fight for her life. Police later said Woodward admitted he “intended to kill his mother due to her early dementia and need for constant assistance.”
The report described how the woman tried desperately to resist as Woodward got on top of her and attempted to smother her with pillows. She pushed and pinched him while shouting that she could not breathe, managing to fight through the assault even as investigators say he struck her at least two more times with the frying pan and attempted again to suffocate her.
Authorities noted that the victim was able to escape only after sliding out from under her son and falling to the floor. From there, she ran toward a garage door and managed to get outside, with Woodward chasing her briefly before stopping as she exited the house. Detectives said that shortly afterward, Woodward called dispatchers and stated he was “going to hell” for what he had done.
Paramedics transported the woman to Broward Health Coral Springs. Police said she was alert and conscious when officers arrived, though she suffered “severe bruising,” and medical staff were still evaluating the full extent of her injuries.
Woodward was taken into custody and booked into the Broward County Main Jail. A judge ordered that he be held without bond and required him to undergo a mental health evaluation. The court also ordered that he have no contact with his mother as the case moves forward.
The investigation remains active as additional details about the woman’s recovery and the circumstances surrounding the attack continue to unfold.
