HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A Hollywood man charged with first-degree murder in his mother's death is denying any involvement in the crime, but police said surveillance video showed him using her ATM card soon after her death.
In the days after his arrest, jailhouse phone calls suggest that Jason Kertesz, 29, was concerned about one thing -- money in his jail bank account to buy supplies from the commissary.
"That's what I need is clothes," he said in one phone call.
But his pleas for cash were denied by family members who were more focused on burying his mother, 62-year-old Irene Kertesz. In one exchange, Jason Kertesz's older brother refused to help him until his name was cleared.
"Honestly, do you know how long that is going to take, Sean? On a case like this where there's no other suspect? On a case like this, it could take two or three years," Jason Kertesz said.
"Jason, I'm not prepared to do anything for you until this part of it is resolved," Sean Kertesz said.
Jason Kertesz is charged with premeditated murder in the beating death of his mother in July. Police said it appeared the woman was bludgeoned with a baseball bat, attacked from behind as she sat at the computer in her home. Police believe robbery was the motive, so Jason Kertesz could get money for drugs.
"I did not do that. I could not do that," Jason Kertesz said.
Jason Kertesz denied several times during the jailhouse phone calls that he did it, even when questioned by his girlfriend why he had his mother's wallet, credit card and cellphone when he was arrested.
"They have you on surveillance using, like, using your mom's credit cards," his girlfriend said.
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything about killing her? That's totally, way totally, different things," Jason Kertesz said.