Mother accused of trying to kill 8-year-old son, biting daughter who ran to stop her

MESA, Ariz. (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) - An Arizona mother is facing an assortment of criminal charges for allegedly trying to kill her 8-year-old son, who has special needs, multiple times.

Mesa Police responded to a home early Sunday morning for a domestic violence call. When they arrived, they found a badly hurt 8-year-old boy, who has special needs. His mother, 36-year-old Erica Encinas, reportedly told officers she tried to kill her son multiple times.

During an initial court hearing Tuesday, prosecutor Ashley Stetson told the judge about the allegations against Encinas in graphic detail.

“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 prosecutor also told the judge that when the victim’s 12-year-old sister ran over to help, Encinas allegedly bit her.

Police say the 8-year-old was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Encinas allegedly indicated she had been planning to kill her son for a while and wanted to drown him in a canal. The charges she faces include attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and child abuse.

Jay Magana lives across the street and was around Sunday morning when his neighbor was arrested. He said he had heard arguments at the home before, and police had been called out several times. But he had never imagined it would lead to something like this.

“We’re neighbors... and sometimes, families fight,” Magana 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.”

Authorities did not indicate whether Encinas had a drug or alcohol problem or suffered from mental illness. She is being held on a $250,000 cash bond.

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