In a harrowing and deeply disturbing case out of Mesa, Arizona, a mother stands accused of attempting to murder her 8-year-old special needs son, allegedly making several gruesome attempts on his life before being stopped. The incident has left a quiet neighborhood reeling, a family fractured, and the community searching for answers.
According to Mesa Police, 36-year-old Erica Encinas faces a string of serious charges including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and child abuse. These charges stem from a domestic violence call that came early Sunday morning, prompting officers to respond to a home in the usually peaceful neighborhood.
Upon arrival, officers found an 8-year-old boy, badly injured but alive. Police say the child, who has special needs, was the target of a chilling series of attempts on his life carried out by his own mother. According to prosecutors, Encinas admitted to trying to kill her son multiple times.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, Maricopa County prosecutor Ashley Stetson laid out the grisly details of what occurred inside the home. “First, she tried to hit him over the head with a rock,” Stetson said. “That did not kill the victim, so then, she tried to smother him with a trash bag. That did not work, Your Honor. Then, she tried to choke him with a rosary.”
The horror did not end there. When the boy’s 12-year-old sister saw what was happening and ran in to help her younger brother, Encinas allegedly turned on her as well—biting her in the struggle. Authorities confirmed the young girl’s injury and described her actions as an act of bravery, intervening in what could have become a fatal attack.
The 8-year-old was quickly rushed to a local hospital where, thankfully, his injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Still, the emotional and psychological scars for both children will likely run deep.
Perhaps most chilling of all was Encinas’ reported confession to police that she had been planning to kill her son for some time. She even admitted she had previously considered drowning him in a canal.
Neighbors say the family had appeared, on the surface, to be typical. Jay Magana, who lives across the street, shared his disbelief. “We’re neighbors… and sometimes, families fight,” he said. “Most of the time, I see the kids playing outside, being good, and we wave when we go by. But when you hear something like that, it’s shocking.”
According to Magana and others, police had been called to the home on multiple occasions, indicating that there were warning signs, though perhaps not ones that could have foretold such a terrifying episode.
As of now, authorities have not confirmed whether Encinas was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the attack, nor have they indicated if she suffers from any diagnosed mental illness. These questions will likely be a central part of the investigation going forward.
Encinas is currently being held at a Maricopa County jail on a $250,000 cash bond. It is unclear whether she has retained legal representation.
The case has sparked community discussion around the intersections of mental health, domestic violence, and the unique challenges of parenting children with special needs. As investigators continue to gather evidence and the judicial process unfolds, the focus remains on the welfare of the two children who endured what no child ever should.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety is reportedly involved, and the children have been removed from the home. Their future will depend on the outcome of the legal proceedings and the support systems put in place to help them recover.
This tragic case serves as a grim reminder that even in seemingly quiet neighborhoods, silent suffering can exist behind closed doors.
