Florida county official accused of killing grandfather in hospice care claims he ‘helped him out'
Christopher Michael Balter, 35, was arrested last Sunday, months after he allegedly confessed to a childhood friend that he 'killed' his grandfather, Gilbert Balter, with prescription meds at their shared Palm Bay home, according to his arrest affidavit obtained by The Post.
Christopher Michael Balter, 35, was arrested last Sunday, months after allegedly confessing to a childhood friend that he 'killed' his grandfather, Gilbert Balter, with prescription meds.
Brevard County Sheriff
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The friend told cops that the younger Balter, the director of Planning and Development for Indian River County, texted her on Feb. 1 to say his grandfather had passed away while in hospice care, authorities said.
When she called to check on him, the friend said Balter chillingly admitted from a sushi restaurant that he killed his grandfather using his own prescription narcotic Ambien pills, the affidavit said.
Balter further told his friend that his grandfather, who was in his 90s, was in a 'vegetative' state and hadn't moved or spoken in four days — noting a cremation for him was already arranged and no evidence would be left behind, the document said.
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The woman initially held off reporting the call, fearing retaliation from Balter due to his role in Indian River County and ties to Palm Bay police personnel, records showed.
But a few days later, she detailed the chilling call to Palm Bay Police, who asked her to make a recorded call with Balter.
The friend initially held off reporting the call, fearing retaliation from Balter due to his role in Indian River County and ties to Palm Bay police personnel.
Indian River County /Facebook
'I'm nervous about what you said about grandpa,' she said over the phone, according to call transcripts.
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'OK, people do that all the time to help people out,' Balter allegedly replied. 'That is what hospice is. They load them full of f–ing pain meds and ease their way out.'
'I didn't kill him, I helped him out,' he then allegedly said.
The friend also asked Balter if he was drinking when he called her, as he had a drinking problem and a whopping three DUIs on his record, authorities added.
Balter allegedly replied to the question with 'No! Why are you freaking out?'
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A medical examiner later confirmed the grandfather had been given Ambien — a drug not prescribed to him — and that a cocktail of morphine, zolpidem (Ambien), and Lorazepam toxicity could not be ruled out as 'contributory to his death,' Click Orlando reported.
Prescribed Ambien tablets were found among the local official's prescriptions, the affidavit said.
A quit claim deed to give Balter his grandfather's home was also found by detectives with his childhood friend's signature as a witness.
The friend then said she did not recognize the document, and police determined Balter had forged her signature.
Balter faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance and forgery.
He has since been freed on bond.
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