Under her Christmas tree, Hummer had already wrapped and stacked up the presents. Many of the gifts were for her grandson, Culp, who had been battling methamphetamine and crack cocaine addiction. To his family, Culp was doing better; he was going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings and working at a car wash.
But admitting he was desperate to buy more drugs, Culp told Hummer to “just go” as he choked her from behind for five minutes with an extension cord from her Christmas display, according to reports.
When that didn’t kill her, he took a kitchen knife to her throat. Culp’s mother walked in to find the horrific scene the next morning. Her mother’s bloodied body was on the couch, nine days before Christmas. Dangerous NA Daytona and AA Daytona meetings.
In the middle of jury selection Tuesday, Culp made the decision not to face the evidence of what he had done, saving his already damaged family from more suffering.
“He just wanted it to stop,” Assistant Public Defender Matt Phillips said later, after Circuit Judge Joseph Will had accepted the plea and sentenced Culp to life in prison. “Trial would have been traumatic for the family. By pleading guilty and accepting a life sentence, this stops that.” Dangerous Holly Hill NA Daytona meetings in Sunrise Park.
Outside the courthouse, the emotions remained raw for Culp’s mother and aunt. They held each other for a long time, both in tears. His mother, Joyce Pena, was not ready to talk. “He was always such a good kid,” Hummer’s daughter, Lee Lauer, said. “He was a really smart kid.”
The evidence – a bloody knife, Hummer’s blood on Culp’s pants, the extension cord and photos of the scene – pointed heavily toward Culp’s guilt. His lawyer, Phillips, had hoped to argue for a less-serious conviction of second-degree murder and less than a life sentence.
The evidence against Culp made that hope a long shot.
Culp admitted to detectives that he went over to Hummer’s house on Tracy Street on Dec. 15 with the intention of killing her for drug money. Although the necessary legal elements were there, the State Attorney’s Office had opted not to seek the death penalty to save the family from more pain.
Culp’s mother, Pena, found her mother’s body on the couch when she got there just before 9 a.m. She and her sister were thrown into pain, shock and confusion that grew only deeper after Culp’s arrest.
Both women, who were expected to be witnesses for the state, were in the back of the courtroom for jury selection Monday and Tuesday. They watched the young man squirm in discomfort when the physical evidence was discussed.
The decision to plead guilty was Culp’s own. While his decision saved his aunts and mother the pain of a trial, Culp also saved himself from having to again face his grandmother’s violent end. The confusion of why the murder even happened remains.
Lauer said she is filled with worry for her nephew, in spite of what he did. “I really thought I’d be happy, but I’m not.”
“We all lose, but I still love him,” she said. “I just wish he had done something different.”
When the hearing was over, Culp turned to them, Lauer said. “He said, ‘I love you guys.’ ”
Christopher Culp, pleaded guilty Tuesday to choking and stabbing his grandmother, Linda Hummer, to death last year.
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Chris was my friend. A dear friend. I had and still have love for him. I’m scared to write him, our struggles were real…I struggled through addiction with him all he talked about was his family. He loved them more than anything. He knew he had demons and I know living with himself after this is the worst pain. I can almost feel his regret. Addiction is a powerful thing. Chris I know u are a good guy. We all make bad decisions, some are just more traumatic and we can’t take back. I love you bro!! Chin up. Never let them see u sweat
#yourangel #misspriss
And to the family, I’m so sorry for your loss…extremely
I just found it about this…2 days after buying that house. My condolences to the family. I will try to honor your mother by planting something in her name and in the best way I can think of at Christmas. I’m so sorry for your pain.
This is just such a tragic story it is hard to even fathom someone could do this to their own Grandmother at Christmas time.
I am thinking of the family in reference to this tragic incident this time of year. The grandmother was so loving to her grandson and had gifts for him under the tree when her own grandson murdered her. There needs to be real treatment for addiction and not send people to harmful religious voodoo NA meetings.
My heart goes out to this family and all that were harmed by this horrific crime.
This time of year this tragic story brings attention to the pain families go through when things go totally wrong with their loved oned getting help for drug addiction. Sending them to Narcotics Anonymous is not the professional help so many need.
We wish you peace and love during this difficult time of year.
Our hearts go out to this local family. For them and others like them we advocate safe, accountable, effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation options for those in need!
To better understand our local problems with dysfunctional recovery groups check out, “ THE RUDE AWAKENING,” and AA/NA PHOTOS IN PUBLIC PARKS AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS!
Grandmothers need to protect themselves when they realize their children or grandchildren are on drugs and demanding money.
Deltona grandma beaten for refusing grandson drug money, deputies say
BY PATRICIO G. BALONA, STAFF WRITER
February 15, 2012 2:10 PM Posted in: News
Saul
A man beat his 84-year-old grandmother because she refused to give him money to buy drugs, a sheriff’s investigator said.
Steven Saul, 34, who lives with his grandmother at her Bailey Avenue home in Deltona, was charged with aggravated battery on a person older than 65, an arrest report shows.
Saul is in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bail but is currently at first appearance, a booking officer said.
According to the arrest report, a deputy responded to the Bailey Avenue home Tuesday at 2:05 p.m. after Lucille Cameron called to report she had been assaulted.
Cameron came home and her grandson started arguing with her over money he wanted to purchase drugs, the deputy said.
The elderly woman tried to leave the home but as she stepped out of the front door, Saul pushed her from behind causing Cameron to slam against her car, deputies said. The deputy found smudge marks on the rear passenger side window where Cameron’s face slammed into it, the report states.
The grandmother injured her ear when her face hit the car’s window, the report said.
After shoving the woman down, Saul entered the passenger side of the car and tried to wrench his grandmother’s purse from her grip but she managed to hold on to it, the deputy wrote in his report.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/breakingnews/2012/02/deltona-grandmother-beaten-for-refusing-to-give-grandson-money-for-drugs.html
Dear Lea, It’s so good to hear from you ! I personally have witnessed how deeply affected people have been by this story. One person in particular has been bringing it up for months now with so much emotion. To be able to express our sincere sympathy and support for you and your family means more than you know ! We are honestly thankful to be able to have this opportunity to communicate with you.
You are right, we can, and will come together and make a difference. The world we live in can be so challenging and it’s easy to see how people can fall into medicating themselves to ease their pain. Drugs and alcohol are so prevalent, and like you said, even if we don’t “win the war” by seeing the day when this is no longer an issue, helping just one or more is worth all the effort ! That one person will no doubt make a big difference in other people’s lives too.
There is a website that I want you to check out. These people have been working very hard to provide FREE, successful, proven, therapy based recovery methods that most people have to pay for through mental health professionals.
The website is( http://www.smartrecovery.org) and their toll-free number is:
( 866-951-5357 )
Recently, because of people who care like yourself, the case was made to the local Drug Courts for the need for more options and they listened ! Now, Smart Recovery has been added as an option for support group, probation compliance for those mandated from Drug Court and Department of Corrections. This is a step in the right direction in offering proven, effective and empowering methods, used by therapists, for resolving emotional and behavioral problems, all while in a safe environment ! I think many people will find professional help for free here where they have been unable to find it before.
Please be extra good to yourselves and thank you for sharing your daughter’s website with everyone. Again, thank you for communicating and please stay in touch !
My heart truly go out to you and your family. All the unconditional love in the universe to you, to somehow find a way to heal, even when it seems there is no way !
This site exists to raise awareness about the reality of the current lack of available, accountable, functional recovery programs and to promote safe and effective addiction rehabilitation options.
Your story all powerfully calls on us all to open our eyes, face the facts and get involved in some way to ensure that basic, proven, professional recovery methods are available to all those in need.
I am so sorry for your pain and I thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Thank you also for understanding why those who operate the site are bringing attention to your heartfelt, traumatic story. I hope that in some way raising awareness helps. I send you love and support from the bottom of my heart.
thank you all so much! this website has really helped me get through the five year anniversary of my mothers’violent death. I would like to share a website with you if its allowed. My 14 year old daughter is trying to cope as well and has friends her age trying drugs and she wants to help. Please visit http://www.wix.com/emily_harts_/fight-against-drugs to see if it can help anyone you know. I dont know if we can ever win this war, however I would sure like to help make the life of even just one person better. Thanks again I look forward to visiting this site everyday I know we can come together and make a difference. Lea Lauer
We are delighted and honored that this site has helped you during such a difficult time. You must be very proud of your daughter that is doing what she can in the fight against drugs.
I am sure you are making a difference in many peoples lives. This story about your loving Mom Linda Hummer is being viewed world wide! Peace and GodBless!
Dear Lea, I am so sorry for your loss. I don’t know what to say except that it must be very difficult. I know people personally who had family killed. It is beyond words.
So with that. I am glad you found this site and that you can speak here freely and get support.
My Great Grandmother was murdered in front of my NANA and her sister age 2 and her brother age 5 . My NANA was 8. They were in the room when The Man shot her to death. AS A child I heard this story many times. They were sent to orphanages.
WHen the Oj Simpson trial was going on it dawned on me that in my family history there was extreme Domestic Violence.
Again I hope you can find a good therapist to speak with or someway to help with this loss. I would not suggest victims support groups because they might be rooted in 12 step and there fore more powerless based ideology…not sure.
take care.
I would like to share more of our story to anyone who wants to listen with hopes that it will help someone choose to try and free themselves from drugs. I would love to try to be there for people young and old in honor of my mother. my email address is (please contact the website for Lea’s e-mail address) if there is anything I can do to help
Thank you AntiDenial and may God Bless you and your family
I cannot put into words how much I feel for you and your family. To see your nephew grow up being such a good kid,and then to see his life ruined and your Mom’s life taken over drugs has got to be incredibly difficult to deal with. When I read about the presents under the Christmas tree for your nephew from your Mom brought me to tears.It has got to be one of the saddest stories I have ever read. I only know the story as it was told in the paper. I assume your Mom had hopes for her grandson as it appeared he was starting to turn his life around. I am glad to see the story personalized with yours and his Mom posting. It does make it very real indeed.
I hope it brings light to the need for more mental health and drug addiction intervention for those that need it. My heart goes out to you during this very difficult time of year. Godbless.
As my sister has said this is a very real story. As Linda was my mother and best friend as well and Chris was my Son. And everyday I relive every second of this nightmare that will never go away. I hurt in pain everyday knowing what drugs can do to a persons mind and how my son left my mother to be found. The pain and sorrow will always be with me. My sister is so right if you have anyone with an addiction problem please help , support and love them but do not enable them. God bless and may your family be as strong as ours has been through this.
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother in such a tragic way.This time of the year must be even more difficult for you and the family. Your nephews story of addiction points to the need of more professional addiction help for addicts. Narcotics Anonymous are non professionals not trained to deal with the issues of many addicts.Many have mental health problems as well,and AA/NA both are known for having a dislike for the professional mental health community.Some encourage members to stop going to therapy and also to stop taking any meds they are on.
Your mother sounds like she was a very loving person and loved her grandson.
This is such a tragic story. We can hope that people will learn some how from this and, and like you said not to enable addiction.
Merry Christmas to you too Lea,and I will take your advice and hold my family closer.
This is a very real story. This was my mother and my nephew. Today will mark the 5 year anniversary of the worst 2 days of my life. I wish things would not have happened to our family and I agree there is no real professional help out there. But lets all keep in mind the person has to want to get help as well. We cant just blame the system as we are all grown adults that can make our own decisions. Some us just make very bad ones as did my nephew. As a result my mother is dead, my sister (his mother) is suffering with so many emotions, and I am left to mourn my mother, and best friend. I wish I could have helped Christopher as he was such a good kid. He was very smart until the drugs took over. Please if you have someone suffering with addiction give them love and support but do not enable them it only makes things worse as you can see from our story. God Bless, Merry Christmas and please hold your families close as you never know when tragedy can take them from you. Lea Lauer (5 years later and still in pain)
I am so sorry. This is perhaps one of the worst stories I have read and heard. This is so tragic. The other story that was horrific was the Kristine Cass and Saundra Cass- murdered by her ex AA boyfriend in Hawaii in 2010 August. Then Tracy White’s murder who we knew was murdered and cut up in Downtown LA by a couple who pretended to Tracy that they wanted help with their drug addiction. The robbery went wrong and they killed and CUT HIM UP INTO PIECES. Then FInally, Keeper of The Birds son was molested , raped and murdered by his AA sponsor. Her story will be in my Documentary. Keeper said that there was a group of men targeting AA meetings and rehabs for teenage boys. The pedophile ring was finally caught and arressted. There were 20 of them over 5 states, including FLorida. AA and NA need to be exposed.
Now to this family. I am very very sorry. I personally am doing work to expose the dangers of what is going on in 12 step meetings, and it’s culture. please take care and feel free to contact me if you care to become an activist.
OMG what an insane story! Its hard to believe but yes it’s true
It was a good thing that he did not put the family through anymore
heartache.This has got to be one of the saddest stories I have read.There needs
to be more done for those addicted so they can get help when they need it.Many
of the inpatient detox units have closed.People should not have to be put on a
waiting list to kick drugs.
Chris was a dear friend of mine. We lived together for several years battling
our addiction to meth…i miss him deeply but i am sad to admit what he did..he
was always a great guy…addiction is a powerful thing…linda hummer…rip…
OMG-this is such a tragic story.It seems like this man needed quality
professional help,and all he got was told to go to NA meetings! NA are non
professionals.
They are not trained or equipped to handle people with serious problems-either
drug or mental health issues.The courts dump criminals in NA’s lap because they
are not offering the professional care people need.Maybe if this country did
not spend so much on going to war we would have money to treat people with
addiction and mental health problems.Instead they send them to NA that has a
horrible success rate. Most people that go drop out unless forced by the
courts.