A 21-year-old woman in Florida has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder after allegedly beating a 41-year-old man to death with a hammer. Journee McGrew was taken into custody last week in connection with the slaying of Waduta Woodley, and she is also charged with altering, concealing, or destroying physical evidence.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the gruesome details of the crime and the disturbing note left on the victim’s body.
The Crime Scene
On the early morning of July 2, 2025, deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a dispute at the Cross Creek Apartments in the 1400 block of Manotak Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found the body of Waduta Woodley lying behind a stairwell near apartment 207.
Woodley suffered blunt force trauma to the head and face, and large pools of blood were found beneath his body and on nearby walls and the ground.
What set this crime apart was the note found on Woodley’s chest. The note, written with a green highlighter, read: “PEDO Touches Children.” Investigators believed the note was written by the killer, though the motive behind this message is still unclear. Woodley was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Investigation and Evidence
Following the discovery of the body, McGrew, who lived in apartment 207, was detained and brought in for questioning. During the investigation, authorities obtained a search warrant for McGrew’s apartment. In the bathroom, detectives found bloody footprints and a hammer with blood on the handle.
They also discovered bloody clothes, shoes, and a notebook with loose paper and a green highlighter, matching the materials used to write the note found on the victim’s body.
McGrew’s father and brother arrived at her apartment after she had attempted to contact her mother. According to the affidavit, McGrew’s father spoke with her during the drive and learned that Woodley had been at McGrew’s apartment earlier and demanded sex.
McGrew allegedly rejected him, and Woodley grabbed her, leading her to strike him with a hammer in self-defense.
McGrew’s Account
In a post-Miranda interview, McGrew claimed that Woodley had sexually groomed her since she was eight years old and had sexually assaulted her multiple times.
Despite these claims, investigators noted that McGrew had messaged Woodley the night before the incident, saying she had been fantasizing about him and regretted treating him poorly. She invited him to her apartment to spend time and have sex.
After drinking alcohol together, McGrew claimed that Woodley began pressuring her for sex, and when she asked him to leave, he allegedly became aggressive. As McGrew walked him to the door, she claimed to have grabbed a hammer from her closet and hid it behind her back.
At the threshold, Woodley allegedly wrapped his arms around her in an aggressive manner, prompting McGrew to push him away and ultimately strike him with the hammer.
Legal Proceedings
McGrew has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held at the Duval County Jail without bond. She is scheduled for an arraignment on July 24, 2025. The case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the full extent of the circumstances surrounding Woodley’s death.
The tragic death of Waduta Woodley has left many questions unanswered, particularly regarding the note found at the crime scene and McGrew’s motivations. While she claims to have acted in self-defense due to past abuse, her recent actions and messages complicate the narrative.
As the legal process moves forward, the community awaits further details about the case, and McGrew’s trial will shed light on the events that led to this violent outcome.
