A 16-year-old girl has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree premeditated murder after authorities say she admitted to fatally shooting her mother and her mother’s boyfriend in July 2024, according to court records obtained by The Daily Signal.

Julia Grace Egler is charged in the deaths of her 38-year-old mother, Kelley McCollom, and McCollom’s 22-year-old boyfriend, Matthew Szejnrok. The killings occurred on July 7, 2024, at a residence where all three lived.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Egler initially told police that an unknown individual had broken into the home and committed the shootings.

Investigators later stated that she “confessed to killing” both victims.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

“She admitted that she had broken into [McCollom’s] bedroom while she was gone and obtained a revolver and ammunition,” the affidavit states.

Authorities allege that Egler then waited inside the residence for the victims to return.

“She waited in the kitchen area of the residence for them to arrive home, with a gun in her hand and the knife in her right pants pocket,” the affidavit reads.

When McCollom and Szejnrok entered the home, Egler reportedly addressed them before opening fire.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

“When they walked through the front door, she told them ‘Welcome home’. Moments later, [Egler] shot her mother several times, then shot Matthew several times, as he pleaded with her to stop,” the affidavit states.

Investigators say the suspect described escalating tension in the weeks leading up to the shooting.

“[Egler] advised that she had reached her boiling point with her mother following many disagreements in the previous weeks,” the affidavit reads.

The affidavit also references disputes related to Egler’s gender identity.

“[Egler] was not happy with the fact that [McCollom] was not very accepting of her gender transition (pronouns he/him), and she also did not like that [McCollom] was dating [Szejnrok] who was 22-years-old,” according to the document.

The Palm Bay Police Department provided video footage of Egler’s interview with investigators on the day of the incident. In the video, Egler discussed ongoing disagreements with her mother.

“She’d be like, ‘You’re not a real boy’ and … you know, the whole spiel of transphobic stuff,” Egler said in the recording.

The interview also includes exchanges between Egler and detectives regarding language used in the home.

When asked about how her mother addressed her, Egler said that McCollom would sometimes use neutral terms.

“Is she misgendering you?” a detective asked.

“Yeah,” Egler responded.

The detective asked whether McCollom was intentionally using certain pronouns or names.

Egler nodded and said her mother would reference her biological sex.

“All that bullsh*t, kind of shoving it in my face,” Egler said.

“Obviously, that’s kind of painful. I already beat myself up about it enough, I don’t need you doing it, too.”

During the interview, Egler also spoke about her identity.

“I’ve never really seen myself as a woman,” she said, adding that she had suppressed those feelings for a period of time.

When asked whether she felt pressure to conform, Egler responded, “more trying to fit into my mom’s conforms [sic].”

According to the video, Egler also stated that her mother rejected her views on gender identity.

“No, it’s not real, even if you get the surgeries, it’s not real,” she said her mother told her.

Egler has entered a not guilty plea to both charges.

Her public defender, Michael Pirolo, told The Daily Signal that her trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 2.

The case remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for trial.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.