Vero Beach woman confesses to mother’s murder

Vero Beach woman confesses to mother’s murder

Vero Beach, Fl (treasurecoast.com)- A Vero Beach woman confessed to killing her 81-year-old mother after an argument and then covered the body with boxes and blankets in an effort to hide the body, according to an Indian River County Sheriff’s Office report.

According to the arrest report, Crystal Kohler said she had a fight with her mother, 81-year-old Carmelina Kohler in the garage of their home on Monday, May 9. Crystal said her mom made a comment that sent her into a rage. The fight lasted a few minutes.

Deputies found Carmelina’s body covered with boxes and blankets. She had stab wounds to her abdomen and neck.

Deputies located Crystal at the Fort Pierce Marina early Tuesday morning. Investigators recovered her mother’s car from a garage at the same marina.

Carmelina’s husband reported her missing on Monday night. He told investigators he last saw her around 11 a.m. that day, and expected her to go to a nail appointment at 2 p.m. with their daughter, Crystal. He came home from a doctor’s appointment at 1:30 p.m. and saw Crystal in the house, but not his wife. He said Crystal told him that his wife sent her home to change clothes because she looked like a bum.

Investigators also spoke with Crystal’s ex-boyfriend on the evening of her mother’s disappearance. The ex said Crystal showed up at his place at the marina unannounced and distraught. He said she had an argument with her mother but didn’t share any more information about it.

The ex-boyfriend also said Crystal planned to leave town on a Greyhound bus, possibly to Tennessee, and that they went shopping earlier that day at Walmart where he gave her $120 in cash.

According to the arrest report, Crystal told investigators on Monday that she and her mom went to a nail salon for an appointment at around 11 a.m. She said she returned home around 12:30 p.m. to change clothes before leaving to visit a friend in Vero Beach. Crystal said her mother drove her to the Fort Pierce Marina at 2 p.m. to visit her ex-boyfriend. She claimed she stayed there until she willingly returned to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office to answer questions late that night.

Crystal told investigators she knew her mom was missing and spoke to her sister about it.

However, investigators knew Crystal was at the Walmart in Vero Beach at around 5 p.m., and not in Fort Pierce where she claimed to be.

Her ex-boyfriend also shared with detectives a text message he had received from Crystal just after midnight on Tuesday. It read, “Hey, I’m going to need a ride to u know where in the morning. I had to ditch the thing I was in the cops started calling me. Text me back when u can im turning my phone off for the night. Love u.”

When the detectives questioned her about the inconsistencies she became upset. Then she stopped talking and requested a lawyer.

Deputies held her on a grand theft charge for stealing her mother’s car.

Hours later, authorities said Crystal changed her mind and admitted to what happened. She’s being held at the Indian River County Jail without bond.

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