Dad who 'murdered son with mechanical saw' is 'nasty, evil person'

06 September 2023 , 23:05

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Stephen Lee Rodda was found in the dining room of his grandad's home after allegedly being murdered by his own father (Image: Polk County Sheriff's Office)

A father accused of killing his own son with a mechanical saw before leaving his mutilated body for the teen's grandfather to find was described as a "nasty, evil" person by cops.

Stephen Thomas Rodda, 37, was arrested for the murder of Stephen Lee Rodda, 16, inside the Polk County mobile home in Florida where the victim's grandfather, Thomas Rodda, lived. A police report states 67-year-old Thomas returned home to find Stephen sitting outside the home, before he uttered the chilling words: "I wouldn't go in there if I was you. I killed someone. You may need to call the police."

Police have not released a motive in the killing, but Sheriff Grady Judd described the father as a "nasty, nasty evil person", adding: "We've got an evil, evil man in custody and we're gonna do our best to see that he spends the rest of his life in prison".

Sixteen-year-old Stephen Lee Rodda was living at his grandfather’s house while his grandmother was in rehab, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. His grandfather had returned from visiting his wife when he walked into the nightmare scene inside the mobile home.

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Stephen Lee Rodda, 16, was found in the dining room of his grandad's home (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Stephen Thomas Rodda has been arrested and charged in connection with his teenage son's death (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

The sheriff's office said the teenage victim was an 11th grader at Frostproof Middle-Senior High School, and was set to start a new job at Burger King next week so he could for a car. He had moved in with his grandad to help out while his gran was in hospital.

With dreams of becoming an electrician, the youngster, a brother to three siblings, was focused on his future while trying to save. Sheriff Grady Judd added: "Stephan Rodda was a great kid. Not just a good kid, but a great kid. It breaks our heart, there aren't adequate words to explain how horrific this event is. I want you to know that the world lost a great young man today. We lost a great young man."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shows a picture of Stephen Thomas Rodda at a press conference (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Grandfather Thomas Rodda told investigators it was "not uncommon for the suspect to say bizarre things" and he had a history of using methamphetamine along with psychotic episodes, Sheriff Judd said. While the investigation remains in its early stages, police allege Rodda killed his son with a handheld power tool used for cutting and polishing, Judd said.

Stephen Thomas Rodda was found about a mile away from his father's home in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida, on Highway 60, and arrested by deputies. He is claimed to have told officers "You probably need to read me my rights".

A picture released by police of the vicitm (centre) (Polk County Sheriff's Office)

Stephen Thomas Rodda has had a long history of run-ins with the law including an arrest warrant in South Carolina. He also lived in other states such as Texas, Washington DC, and Ohio. Polk County jail records show that defendant was booked at least two other times under the name Stephan Rodda in drug cases, once in 2022 and another time in 2016.

Sheriff Judd added: "This guy has been nothing but a problem to society for a very long time. And now, he’s turned a problemed person into an evil person when he murdered his son and created a horrible set of circumstances for a loving family."

Abigail O'Leary