Wife Kills Husband's Great-Grandpa to Fund Trip with Boyfriend, Florida Cops Say

A Tragic Scheme Unraveled

In a shocking case that has captured the attention of law enforcement and the public, a woman in Florida allegedly orchestrated a violent crime with her boyfriend to fund a trip to Michigan. The incident involved the death of 88-year-old James Little, who was found brutally beaten in his home in 2020. The case highlights the lengths to which some individuals may go for personal gain.

Britney Andrus, 29, was recently convicted by a jury of second-degree murder, burglary with assault or battery, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and burglary of a conveyance. These charges are linked to the death of James Little, according to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. Andrus’ boyfriend at the time, Tyler Best, 25, also faced legal consequences after pleading guilty to similar charges, including second-degree murder and possessing a firearm as a felon.

The details of the case reveal a calculated plan. According to investigators, Andrus and Best were planning a trip to Michigan, where Andrus' grandmother lived. To fund their journey, they devised a scheme to steal items from Little’s main house. This plan led to a tragic outcome.

Andrus had a neighbor call 911 on October 22, 2020, claiming she found Little severely injured in his home. However, investigators determined that Andrus was the one responsible for the attack. It appears that Little was asleep when an intruder woke him up and struck him 12 times with a blunt object before fleeing with his valuables. Although Little survived the initial incident, he succumbed to his injuries five days later.

The investigation uncovered critical evidence that pointed to Andrus and Best. Law enforcement discovered items in the mother-in-law suite that belonged to Little, including a safe that had been hidden in the air conditioning vent of the main house. One of Little’s sons noted that only family members would have known about the safe’s location, suggesting that Andrus had this knowledge.

Best’s fingerprints were found on the vent, while Andrus’ prints were discovered on a clock in the mother-in-law suite that had come from Little’s home. These findings provided crucial links between the suspects and the crime scene.

Surveillance footage showed Andrus driving to meet Best in Little’s car the morning of the incident. Best told investigators that Andrus gave him Little’s wallet and instructed him to burn the house down, although he did not follow through with the plan. When Best failed to act, Andrus went to a neighbor’s house and claimed she had found Little badly injured after a break-in, prompting the neighbor to call 911.

Other witnesses reported hearing Best talk about hitting someone but changing his story multiple times. Eventually, he recanted and claimed that Andrus was responsible for the attack. Best was later arrested at a family member's home and found with a backpack containing items belonging to Little, including jewelry and a wallet with cards from both Little and his late wife.

It wasn’t until a year after Little’s death that Andrus and Best were charged with murder. The sheriff’s office explained that the investigation involved numerous interviews and the collection and analysis of biological evidence, which can take several months. Once all the evidence was gathered, arrest warrants were issued.

Court records indicate that Andrus and her husband, who was the victim’s great-grandson, finalized their divorce in 2024. Sebring, where the events took place, is approximately a 100-mile drive southeast from Tampa.

This case serves as a grim reminder of the potential for betrayal and violence within personal relationships, and the serious consequences that can arise from such actions.