Mother attacked her 8-year-old disabled son in front of her 12-year-old daughter as she had been planning to kill him “for a while” and tried to smother him with a bag after hitting him with a rock; charged
Arizona – In a deeply disturbing case out of Arizona, a 36-year-old mother, identified as E. Encinas, is facing multiple felony charges in connection with the horrifying attack she carried out against her 8-year-old disabled son, during which she hit him with a rock in the head, and when that didn’t work, resorted to smothering him using multiple items. According to reports, the attack took place in front of her 12-year-old daughter, who tried to defend her younger brother. Encinas later admitted to authorities she had been planning to kill the boy for a while.
Authorities arrested Encinas after she attacked her son inside their home early Sunday morning. According to the police department, officers responded to the home at 6:15 a.m. after Encinas herself called 911 and confessed that she had physically assaulted her young son. The boy was found with serious injuries and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, medical professionals determined that the injuries, while severe, were not life-threatening. Encinas was taken into custody at the scene and later booked into jail on the following charges: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault-strangulation, aggravated assault on a minor, and child abuse.
The initial appearance hearing revealed even more chilling details. Prosecutors stated that Encinas openly admitted she had been planning to kill her son for a while and attempted to carry out the act in several brutal ways. According to Deputy County Attorney A. Stetson, the first attempt involved trying to strike the child in the head with a rock. When that failed, she attempted to smother him with a trash bag. Not stopping there, Encinas then tried to strangle the child. Stetson further told the court that Encinas had earlier considered taking her son to a creek and drowning him. These premeditated plans highlighted the level of intent behind her actions, prosecutors said.
Even more heartbreaking was the involvement of Encinas’ 12-year-old daughter, who was present during the entire ordeal. Prosecutors revealed that the older sibling tried to intervene to protect her brother during the attack. In response, Encinas allegedly fought her daughter and even bit the child during the struggle. “The second minor child did try to intervene,” Stetson told the court. “In the process, the suspect fought her and bit her.” These new allegations led the judge to express grave concern for the children’s safety and wellbeing.
The court acknowledged that Child Protective Services was already involved with the family. The judge made it clear that he was relieved the children were under state protection and added, “I don’t know if she’ll ever be in a situation where she will be in the same location as her children again.” Following the hearing, Encinas was ordered to be held in jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond, with the judge emphasizing the serious nature of the case and the premeditated intent to kill.
As of now, the investigation remains active. Authorities have not disclosed the full medical status of the children or whether Encinas had a documented history of mental illness or abuse. Prosecutors say they are continuing to gather evidence and expect additional proceedings to take place in the coming weeks. The harrowing case has left many in the community shaken, as details continue to emerge about a mother’s calculated and violent plan against her own son, interrupted only by the courageous actions of his older sister.
