Florida teen gets 45 years in prison for murdering mom in argument over bad grades

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKMG) -- A 17-year-old boy was formally sentenced on first-degree murder charges Friday, Jan. 22, in Volusia County, receiving 45 years in prison for killing his mother in 2018 after an argument.

Gregory Ramos last month entered a guilty plea for murder and two other charges in the death of his mother.

Deputies said Ramos was 15 years old when he strangled Gail Cleavenger to death after an argument over his bad grades.

Ramos initially told detectives that he returned home from school and discovered that the house had been burglarized, his mother was missing and her van was running in the driveway. He then made a 911 call to report the alleged burglary.

Cleavenger's body was found buried under a fire pit at River City Church on Highbanks Road in November 2018 after Ramos confessed to killing her, sheriff's officials said. According to investigators, Ramos said that it took 30 minutes to strangle his mother at the family's home on Alicante Road in DeBary.

Ramos was charged as an adult and could have faced up to life in prison, but after a deal with prosecutors, his sentence was reduced to 45 years. His sentence can be reviewed again in 25 years but he will serve lifetime probation.

The Miami Herald reports after it took Ramos about 30 minutes to strangle his mother with his bare hands, he then put her in a wheelbarrow, pushed it outside and loaded it in the family van, records show.

Two of Ramos' friends were also charged as adults with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, the Herald reports. While they were not present when Ramos killed his mother, they were accused of helping in his attempt to cover up the crime, according to records and investigators.