Florida Mother and Her Young Boyfriend Slained by Teenage Daughter who Staged Home Break-in to Evade Arrest; Killer Daughter Arrested
Julia Egler, 17, called Palm Bay Police at 12:06 AM on July 7, 2024, reporting a home break-in. Julia reported that a 5’8″ male, unknown, entered the house through the rear sliding glass door using a hammer found in the backyard. Julia, upset throughout the 9-minute chat, did not mention her mother or her mother’s boyfriend at home.
Police came to find a gruesome scene. The bodies of Julia’s mother, Kelley McColom (42), and her boyfriend, Matthew Szejnrok (22) were recovered in the living room and bathroom, respectively. Both had gunshot wounds. Many shot casings were found alongside Matthew’s body, confirming a double homicide.
Julia briefly talked to Detective Brown outside the home. She said she heard someone trying to break in while alone in the living room. With her pets, she locked herself in her bedroom, leaving her phone on the couch. After hearing loud bangs, she thought the burglar kicked open Kelley’s bedroom door. Pit bulls barking kept the intruder from entering her room, she added.
After hearing Kelley and Matthew return home with gunshots and screaming, Julia stayed in her bedroom. After an hour, she left her room to find Kelley and Matthew dead.
Officers found evidence that contradicted the story at the residence. A blood trail led to Matthew’s body in the restroom. Under Julia’s bedroom window in the garden was a silver.38 Special revolver. Contrary to Julia’s narrative, the bloody footprints and Matthew’s cell phone were covered in the smashed back door glass. Surveillance footage showed Kelley and Matthew arriving home at 10:34 PM and no movements until authorities arrived around 12:12 AM.
Julia was questioned by Palm Bay police. She initially told about an unknown intruder. Julia admitted to killings under questioning. She acknowledged entering Kelley’s bedroom for a pistol and ammunition. Kelley and Matthew returned home, and she said, “Welcome home,” before killing her mother many times. She shot Matthew, who begged her not to.
She chased Matthew into the bathroom and stabbed him repeatedly after running out of bullets. She reloaded the revolver and shot Matthew in the head at his request.
Julia broke the rear door and threw the gun to simulate a break-in. She broke down after many arguments with her mother, who was rejecting Julia’s transition and dating Matthew, a younger man.
Julia Egler was arrested for two first-degree premeditated murders. The Palm Bay Police Department booked her and sent her to the Juvenile Detention Center without incident.
