LAKE WALES -- A man is accused of murdering his teenage son just west of Lake Wales.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd says 37 year old Steven Thomas Rada showed up at his father's home Monday morning and used an angle grinder to kill his 16-year-old son, Steven Rada. The younger Rada was taking care of his 65-year-old grandfather while his grandmother was in rehab. Judd says the suspect, described as a meth user with frequent psychotic episodes, couldn't explain why he killed his son. Judd says the father has a been "a problem to society for a long time." He had an arrest warrant in South Carolina but the state didn't want to extradite him. Judd describes the suspect as "pure evil."
Judd describes the victim as a "great kid" who was in the 11th grade at Frostproof High School and aspired to become an electrician. "The world lost a great young man," Judd said. He describes the murder as "inexplicable" and "horrific."
Just eight days ago in the same area, Judd says a woman killed her two children, 10 and 19, and then herself in a custody battle. "I can't remember (parents killing children) twice in eight days in my entire career (in law enforcement)," Judd said.
Photo: Canva