A tragic incident occurred in Santa Ana, California, where a mother was arrested for allegedly stabbing her 11-year-old son to death in a hotel room. The heartbreaking event took place on Wednesday morning when the woman called 911 around 9:30 AM and reportedly confessed to killing her child.
Police officers from the Santa Ana Police Department quickly arrived at La Quinta Inn & Suites near Orange County Airport, where they found the young boy inside a third-floor hotel room with multiple stab wounds. Unfortunately, paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Mother Attempted to Harm Herself
The suspect, a 48-year-old woman from Irvine, was found inside the same hotel room. According to officers, she had ingested a large number of pills, including pain medication, in what appeared to be a suicide attempt. Police also found a knife inside the room, which they believe was used in the attack.
“She’s currently in stable condition at the hospital,” said Sgt. Natalie Garcia of the Santa Ana Police Department. “However, given the seriousness of the case, she is in custody.” Once she recovers, she will be booked into the Santa Ana Jail and face legal charges.
Hotel Guests Recall Hearing Strange Noises
The mother and son had reportedly been staying at the hotel on and off for the past two weeks, but authorities have not revealed why they were living there.
One hotel guest, Elisa Witherell, who was staying in the room below the tragic scene, said she heard unusual noises that morning.
“We heard some commotion, but it didn’t seem out of the ordinary,” Witherell told NBC Los Angeles. “Then, we heard loud banging, like someone hitting the wall, followed by a loud thud, as if something heavy had fallen to the floor. We also heard a short scream, and then it went silent.”
Other hotel guests were deeply shocked by the tragic news. “This is messed up,” one guest said.
A Community in Mourning
The tragic loss of such a young child has left many people in the community devastated. A man named Ed, who did not know the victim personally, set up a small memorial outside the hotel to honor the 11-year-old boy.
“God rest his soul,” Ed said. “That little baby… it’s just heartbreaking.”
The case is still under investigation, and authorities have not yet disclosed any possible motive behind the horrific act.
