INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man who deputies said made suspicious statements about the death of his 76-year-old grandmother during a welfare check Monday at the home they shared, was taken into custody. The grandson, Nicholas Ivey, later admitted to a detective that he killed his grandmother, reports show.
“She came at me with a knife,” Ivey told detectives in the arrest report. Ivey also stole the woman’s credit cards, along with her vehicle, and drove to a store where he bought cigarettes and a beer, reports show.
Deputies said physical evidence at the scene also led them to believe the woman died under suspicious circumstances. The woman was identified as Patricia Dibella, reports show.
“At this time, detectives believe this is an isolated incident between family members, and there was no known threat to the public,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. “This is an active and ongoing investigation.”
Nicholas Ivey PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Ivey, 29, was arrested on charges including grand theft auto, criminal use of personal ID information, unlawful possession of a stolen credit card and fraudulent use of a credit card. Ivey, who was not yet charged in Dibella’s death, was held Wednesday at the Indian River County Jail on a $400,000 bond.
Further information about the evidence found at the home was not immediately available.
Indian River County sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check about 8:15 p.m. Monday at the home at Fairways at Grand Harbor Condominiums in the 5000 block of Fairway Circle, just west of Indian River Boulevard, east of U.S. 1 and north of Vero Beach.
“(Dibella) had not been heard from since the previous day and resides at the location with her grandson Nicholas Ivey,” Jaworski said.
Deputies arrived and spoke with Ivey in the parking lot, where he made suspicious statements about Dibella’s death. Ivey told deputies Dibella poked him in the back with a kitchen steak knife.
Ivey said he beat Dibella by “snapping her neck” and then punching and stomping on her head while she was on the ground, reports show. Ivey said he moved Dibella’s body from the kitchen floor to her bed.
Ivey stole Dibella’s Nissan sedan, which was later transported to the sheriff’s compound as evidence, Jaworski said. After buying items using Dibella’s credit card at the store, Ivey returned home, called his father and admitted he killed his grandmother, reports show.
Deputies went in the home and found Dibella’s body, Jaworski said. Ivey said he washed his bloody sweatshirt he wore during the incident and washed towels he used to clean the blood off of the floor.
“Ivey was immediately taken into custody without incident and transported to the Criminal Investigations Division for further interview,” Jaworski said.
Crime scene units and detectives combed the home, along with a vehicle, for evidence. The vehicle was secured for forensic examination, Jaworski said.
The Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene.
“Next of kin notifications have been completed,” Jaworski said. “No additional details will be released at this time.”
Ivey’s arraignment was set for 9 a.m. March 10, court records show.
