In a heartbreaking and shocking incident in Illinois, a 26-year-old mother, identified as L. Torres, has been arrested and held without bond after allegedly stabbing her 7-year-old son multiple times inside their apartment. Authorities say the violent act happened after the child created a mess in the house following her late-night cleaning efforts.
Incident Happened Early Morning After a Cleaning Spree
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred around 8 a.m. on Saturday. Torres reportedly spent the night before cleaning her home, only to wake up and find the apartment in a mess. Enraged, she allegedly began hitting her son in anger.
Terrified, the child ran and hid inside the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Prosecutors say that when Torres couldn’t get him out, she grabbed a kitchen knife and started stabbing blindly into the cabinet space. She reportedly continued until she heard her son scream “Ouch!”, realizing then that she had stabbed him.
Mother Took Son to Hospital After Family Pressure
After noticing that her son was bleeding badly, Torres carried him to her mother’s downstairs apartment. Her mother reportedly insisted she take the boy to the hospital immediately.
Torres did take the child to the hospital, where medical staff found a serious abdominal wound. Due to the critical nature of the injury, the boy was transferred to a children’s hospital for emergency surgery. Doctors later said the boy was in fair condition but confirmed the injury was life-threatening.
Police Say the Attack Was Intentional
During police questioning, Torres claimed she did not mean to stab her son and was only waving the knife to try and locate him in the dark cabinet. However, police and prosecutors say the evidence tells a different story.
An 11-year-old cousin, who was present, told police that he heard Torres threaten to stab the boy if he didn’t come out. After the arrest, the cousin also overheard Torres asking her mother to lie to police and “tell a different story.”
Torres’ own mother backed up the cousin’s version, confirming that Torres had made threats and attempted to influence the family’s statements to authorities.
Court Denies Bond: Judge Calls It a “Disturbing” Case
During the bond hearing on Monday, a judge described the case as “disturbing and egregious.” The court decided that Torres posed a serious threat to her child and denied her bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 13.
Torres is currently charged with aggravated battery of a child under 13, a felony offense in the state of Illinois.
Ongoing Investigation and Child Welfare Involvement
Authorities are still investigating the events leading up to the stabbing. Prosecutors believe the child’s decision to hide instead of fight back shows that he may have been living in fear of his mother for some time.
Child protection agencies are now involved and are expected to conduct a thorough safety assessment to ensure the child receives the care and protection he needs moving forward.
This tragic case highlights the serious dangers of unchecked anger and violence in households, especially when young children are involved. The community and authorities are closely monitoring the legal proceedings, hoping for justice and the child’s full recovery.