SEATTLE (KOMO) – A Seattle mother is in jail on suspicion of murder after police say she beat her 14-year-old son until he died because she was angry he didn’t do his chores.
Police say the 29-year-old suspect called 911 around 2:15 p.m. Thursday from the family’s home and reported her 14-year-old son went unresponsive while she was spanking him with an extension cord. The teenager was taken to the hospital, where he died.
The boy’s mother was booked into jail for murder. Police say she mercilessly beat the 14-year-old for an hour after he didn’t complete his chores.
A police report alleges the suspect told investigators at one point, she shoved her son against the wall, and he struck his head, went limp and fell to the floor. She allegedly waited five minutes before calling 911.
“This assault happened over an hour on a 14-year-old child, extension cords, struck his head, lost consciousness as she continued beating him and then failed to call for emergency services,” said Christopher Anderson with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The suspect refused to appear in court for a bail hearing Friday afternoon during which her public defender, Zelena Jones, argued for her release from custody.
Jones said the mother is in grief at the loss of the son she is accused of killing.
“I know of the seriousness of these facts, but this also involves a mother losing her son and significant trauma she is experiencing from that. I’d also argue there would be additional trauma on top of that if she is incarcerated,” Jones said.
The judge sided with prosecutors who asked for a bail of $3 million. Prosecutors say they expect the suspect will be charged in the case by Tuesday.
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