SEATTLE, WA – A 45-year-old Seattle woman was arrested Sunday and is being held on $5 million bail after allegedly stabbing her 4-year-old autistic son to death, telling police she “sacrificed” him because of behaviors related to his condition.
Officers responded to a 911 call from the child’s father, who found his son unresponsive in the family’s apartment. During the emergency call, the father could be heard screaming “she killed him,” according to investigators.
Police arrived to discover the fully-clothed child lying face-down in approximately four inches of bloody bathwater. A kitchen knife, believed to be the weapon used in the attack, was found at the scene.
The mother allegedly stabbed her son once in the chest. Witnesses reported seeing her run through the apartment building’s hallways screaming about what she had done. The child died within minutes of the stabbing, according to the mother’s account to police.
The woman told investigators she filled the bathtub with water to “comfort him” after the attack. When officers arrested her, they observed blood on her hands.
During questioning, the mother told police she “sacrificed” her son because of what she considered unusual behavior, citing “licking countertops and jumping around” as concerning actions. She acknowledged that her son had autism.
The woman also made cryptic statements to officers, reportedly saying “he’s go” and “they made me do it.” Investigators have not provided details about what she meant by these statements.
The mother had not been formally charged at the time of the initial court appearance but faces potential murder charges. She is being held on $5 million bail at the King County Jail.
Authorities have not publicly released the names of the mother or child. The Seattle Police Department’s Homicide Unit is continuing its investigation into the incident.
The King County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death. Prosecutors are expected to file formal charges in the coming days.
