Florida county official charged with killing grandfather in hospice care says he ‘assisted him’

Florida County Official Arrested for Allegedly Causing Grandfather’s Death

Authorities report that a county official in Florida is accused of fatally administering drugs to his grandfather while the elderly man was under hospice care.

Christopher Michael Balter, 35, was taken into custody last Sunday after allegedly admitting to a friend that he “killed” his grandfather, Gilbert Balter.

The friend informed law enforcement that Balter, who serves as the planning and development director for Indian River County, texted her on February 1, indicating that his grandfather had passed away in hospice.

During a phone call to check in on him, Balter reportedly confessed to using prescription Ambien pills that he obtained from a local restaurant to end her grandfather’s life, according to an affidavit.

Balter also mentioned to his friend that his grandfather, who was in his nineties, had not moved or spoken for several days and was in a “nourishing” state.

Initially, the friend hesitated to report Balter’s comments, fearing potential repercussions due to their connections within Indian River County and the Palm Bay Police. However, a few days later, she decided to share the alarming details with law enforcement.

On the call, she expressed her concerns, saying, “I’m nervous about what you said about Grandpa,” to which Balter allegedly replied, “People always do that to help people… That’s the hospice. They’ll get them full of painkillers and run away.”

He then went on to claim, “I didn’t kill him, I helped him,” when pressed by his friend about whether he was under the influence when he made the call.

Subsequent medical examinations indicated that Ambien, among other drugs like morphine and Lorazepam, may have contributed to his grandfather’s death. Toxicology reports confirmed that these substances were present and not prescribed to him.

Investigators also found that a smoking agreement for Balter’s grandfather’s home, signed by a childhood friend as a witness, was potentially forged, further complicating the case.