A 21-year-old Florida man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, a nurse who had moved to the state to help him obtain mental health treatment. Deputies found 56-year-old Margaret Chu Dufour dead inside her Polk County home on July 21 after her son was involved in several traffic crashes while driving her vehicle. Authorities said the case followed two earlier arrests in Tennessee involving alleged threats to kill his mother.
Investigators said blood found on Gibson Nash belonged to Dufour, while bruising on his hands and feet was consistent with a violent assault. Nash is being held without bond and also faces charges related to leaving crash scenes involving injuries.
| 1) | Crash investigation leads deputies to a Florida home |
| 2) | Medical findings point to a violent death |
| 3) | Earlier threats had led to arrests in Tennessee |
| 4) | The mother had moved to help her son |
| 5) | Nash remains jailed as the case proceeds |
Crash investigation leads deputies to a Florida home
The investigation began shortly before 7 a.m. on July 21, when Nash allegedly drove Dufour’s blue BMW SUV into multiple crashes in Polk County. Authorities said he fled the first collision and then struck additional vehicles, causing further property damage and injuring three people who were treated at a hospital.
Deputies found Nash unconscious behind the wheel and covered in blood. Because the vehicle was registered to Dufour, they went to her home in Eagle Lake, Florida. She did not answer the door, and deputies observed a broken glass plate near the patio door and a shovel near the side of the house. They entered with a key found on the front porch after determining that the circumstances were suspicious.
Medical findings point to a violent death
Inside the home, deputies found Dufour on the floor. Sheriff Grady Judd described the scene as exceptionally violent. The medical examiner determined that she died from blunt-force injuries caused by a beating and from strangulation.
Authorities said blood on Nash’s clothing was tested while he was hospitalized after the crashes and was identified as Dufour’s. Investigators also reported significant bruising on his knuckles and feet, which they said was consistent with kicking and beating. Nash was additionally suffering liver failure after an alleged Tylenol overdose. He was sedated and intubated at the hospital and was initially treated without law enforcement obtaining an interview.
“It’s one of the most, personally, violent murders we’ve seen in a very long time,” Judd said.
Earlier threats had led to arrests in Tennessee
The sheriff’s office said Nash had been arrested twice in April while he and Dufour were living in Knoxville, Tennessee. In the first incident, Dufour contacted 911 after entering a smoke shop and locking the door behind her, leaving Nash outside in her vehicle. She told the dispatcher that he had attacked her the previous night and assaulted her that morning.
According to authorities, Dufour said she had agreed to take Nash to the smoke shop because it was the only way she could calm him. Nash was later arrested on an allegation that he threatened to kill her with a knife. Later that month, police arrested him again after he allegedly pulled a knife and repeated the threat during an argument over his inability to play Xbox.
The mother had moved to help her son
Dufour moved from Tennessee to Florida approximately a month before her death, according to investigators. Authorities said the move was intended to provide Nash with access to mental health care. Family members told investigators that Nash had been described as bipolar, schizophrenic and possibly autistic, though those statements were presented as family accounts rather than a formal finding in the murder case.
Dufour had recently begun working as a nurse on the surgery floor at Bartow Regional Medical Center. Deputies had encountered her about a month before her death when they responded to a dispute involving movers at her new home. The sheriff said the movers had attempted to increase the bill, and deputies helped Dufour finish moving her belongings after the company left.
Nash remains jailed as the case proceeds
Nash has been charged with first-degree murder and two third-degree felony counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury. He is being held without bond in a Polk County jail. His attorney, who was hired by his father, declined to allow investigators to interview him, according to the sheriff.
Authorities said Nash made statements or omissions without being formally interviewed that investigators considered relevant. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings, and a criminal charge is not a conviction.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nash faces a first-degree murder charge in his mother’s death. |
| 2 | Dufour was found dead inside her Eagle Lake home on July 21. |
| 3 | Blood evidence and reported injuries led investigators to connect Nash to the killing. |
| 4 | He had previously been arrested twice over alleged threats against Dufour. |
Summary
The case centers on the death of a Florida nurse who had continued supporting her son despite earlier alleged threats and arrests. Investigators say the evidence collected after a series of traffic crashes connected Nash to the fatal assault. He remains in custody while prosecutors pursue the murder and crash-related charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does Gibson Nash face?
Nash faces one count of first-degree murder and two third-degree felony counts for allegedly leaving crash scenes involving injuries.
Where was Margaret Chu Dufour found?
Deputies found Dufour inside her home in Eagle Lake, in Polk County, Florida.
What evidence did investigators cite?
Authorities cited blood on Nash’s clothing that they said belonged to Dufour, as well as bruising on his knuckles and feet. The medical examiner also reported fatal blunt-force injuries and strangulation.
