Investigators in Florida are working to piece together what happened to a 76-year-old grandmother found dead inside her apartment. Deputies from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office performed a welfare check at Patricia Dibella’s home on February 2, 2026. When they arrived, they reportedly found her grandson, 29-year-old Nicholas Ivey, standing outside. He told investigators his grandmother was dead inside. When police told Ivey they were taking him into custody, he had a disturbing story about what he claims happened inside the home.
WPBF reported that court documents state Ivey called Dibella’s unidentified son-in-law, his father, and said his grandmother was dead. The son-in-law then called police for a welfare check at Dibella’s apartment at 5090 Fairways Circle in Vero Beach. Investigators saw Ivey outside before entering the apartment and finding Dibella dead. Police told Ivey they were taking him into custody, and he allegedly said, “She came at me with a knife.”
When they arrived at the sheriff’s office, Ivey reportedly gave a graphic and disturbing confession. He told investigators his grandmother poked him in the back with a steak knife. In return, Ivey said, he snapped his grandmother’s neck and stomped on her on the kitchen floor, according to WPBF. He reportedly told police he moved her body into the bedroom and cleaned up blood with towels. Ivey said he washed the towels and sweatshirt he wore before calling for help.
Ivey allegedly told authorities he called his dad, but he didn’t pick up, and he wanted to wait to call 911. Instead, he took his grandmother’s credit cards and drove her car to purchase cigarettes and beer. When he returned, Ivey reportedly called his dad and confessed to killing his grandmother, the outlet reported.
Deputies arrested Ivey and booked him into Indian River County Jail on charges of grand theft auto, criminal use of personal identification, unlawful possession of stolen credit cards, and fraudulent use of credit cards.
The Indian River Sheriff’s Office released a statement to WPBF about possible charges. “The pc affidavit reflects the facts known at the time of arrest. Formal murder charges are determined and filed as soon as certain evidence is processed. That process is still ongoing, but we expect charges consistent with murder,” the statement reads.
What a terrible way to die. Hopefully, Dibella didn’t suffer long and justice will be served.
