Britney Andrus Robbed and Killed Her Great-Grandfather-in-Law to Fund a Trip with Her Boyfriend

Britney Lee Andrus and her boyfriend, Tyler Best, were living in a mother-in-law suite attached to the Sebring, Fla., home of 88-year-old James Little when they first broke in to rob their host in October 2020. Then came a plan to steal more, including Little's car, so they could go to Michigan to see Andrus's grandmother, prosecutors said.

Yet instead of another robbery, on October 22, 2020, Little was beaten in his home; he died in the hospital five days later. Both Andrus, 24 at the time, and Best, then 20, were charged with his murder, as well as burglary-related offenses, in October 2021.

Best made a deal to testify against Andrus for the chance of a lighter sentence, and in July 2025, a jury convicted Andrus of second-degree murder, grand theft auto and burglary with assault and battery.

Little had agreed to let Andrus stay in the mother-in-law suite because she was married to his great-grandson, who was then in Highlands County Jail. A locked door separated his house from the suite.

Little's wife of 69 years, Barbara, died in September 2020, but having Andrus nearby didn't provide Little with companionship. Before her death, Barbara had put up a sign barring Andrus from the Littles' home, Little’s son Glenn testified. In October, Andrus was still not supposed to enter the main house.

Guests also weren't allowed, but Andrus's boyfriend, Tyler Best, was staying with her. In October, Best and Andrus took advantage of the proximity to break into Little's home and steal from him.

Older person abuse, which the Centers for Disease Control defines as intentionally harming an adult over the age of 60, includes financial crimes such as stealing. These crimes are typically perpetrated by a loved one. "Family members are the most common abusers of elders," Dr. Mary Breaux, a professor of practice in the department of victim studies and director of the Crime Victims' Institute at Sam Houston State University's College of Criminal Justice and Criminology, tells A&E Crime + Investigation.

Living together can also pose a risk. According to the , "Between 53% and 64% of elder abuse victims and perpetrators cohabitated at the time of the offense."

As would be the case for Little, the offense can extend to murder. "When someone kills an older family member, living together is a common factor that we see," Dr. Susan Hatters-Friedman, a professor of forensic psychiatry at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, confirms to A&E Crime + Investigation.

On October 22, 2020, Little was attacked in his bedroom. Based on blood spatter and pooled blood in the room, investigators concluded he woke up when he was struck 12 times with a blunt object.

At around 1:30 p.m., Andrus went to a neighbor's house and asked them to call 911 for Little. She said she'd found Little on the floor. Little was alive and taken to the hospital, but died five days later on October 27.

After the attack, investigators searched the mother-in-law unit and found a safe that had been concealed in an air vent in Little's house, along with other items including a clock, according to the warrant affidavit. Best's fingerprints were on the vent in Little's home, and Andrus's were on the clock. Little's son told authorities that only family members, including Andrus, knew the safe's location.

On October 23, 2020, law enforcement detained Best. An arrest report says he consented to a search of his backpack, which contained jewelry and a wallet with Barbara's Medicare card. He also had a gun and ammunition. Best was arrested for possession of a weapon and ammunition by a felon, and later faced additional charges of driving without a license, vehicle theft and burglary.

As the investigation proceeded, Andrus was also taken into custody on a separate arson charge.

On October 22, 2021, a year to the day after the attack on Little, Andrus was released from Highlands County Jail, having served her time for arson. Later that same day, she was arrested for Little's murder and charged with second-degree murder, burglary with battery and grand theft auto.

Best, who'd been in jail since his arrest in 2020, faced the same charges. But Best told authorities he'd left after Andrus had shared a plan to murder Little. Around 8 a.m. on October 22, he said Andrus drove Little's car to him and gave him cash from Little, which Best used to buy drugs.

Investigators tracked Best's movements and found support for his version of events. Surveillance footage showed Andrus driving Little's car the morning of October 22. According to Little's family, he would not have given her the keys.

In 2023, Best pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Though he continued to say he wasn't present for Little's murder, accepting stolen cash and items from Andrus meant he could still be convicted of the crime under the principal theory, Highlands County Prosecutor John Kromholz said at the time of Best’s sentencing.

Little's great-grandson divorced Andrus in December 2024 per court records viewed by A&E Crime + Investigation. Her trial for killing her ex-husband's great-grandfather began in July 2025.

During the trial, Best took the stand and said Andrus had confessed to the murder. While under oath, he also admitted that he hoped his testimony would let him avoid life in prison.

"The danger of giving somebody a plea agreement is it does impact considerations of their credibility, and that's a big issue for juries," Michael Benza, a professor at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law, tells A&E Crime + Investigation.

Andrus's attorney attempted to pin the blame on Best instead, but the jury found Andrus guilty of all charges on July 25, 2025.

Best was given 15 years for manslaughter in January 2026. Benza explains that even though Best had already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, it was possible for prosecutors to change the plea and let him serve a lighter sentence.

Andrus's sentencing was delayed when her lawyer asked for a competency hearing. In February 2026, she was ruled competent to be sentenced. Her sentencing was rescheduled for March 3, 2026. She could serve 30 years to life in prison.