Topline: Prosecutors say the mother admitted to planning her son’s death and made multiple failed attempts.
Published: May 29, 2025 7:00 am ET
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Erica Encinas (via Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
MESA, AZ — An Arizona woman is in custody after police say she attempted to kill her 8-year-old son on numerous occasions.
According to the Mesa Police Department, officers responded to a residence near Broadway Road and Center Street around 6:15 a.m. Sunday after a woman called 911 and reported she had physically assaulted her son.
When officers arrived, they found the child with serious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, KPNX reported.
The child’s mother, 36-year-old Erica Christine Encinas, was arrested and booked into jail. She was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault-strangulation, aggravated assault on a minor, and child abuse.
According to KPHO, prosecutors laid out their case in a court hearing on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Encinas allegedly told officers she had been planning to kill her son—who has special needs—“for a while” and had attempted to do so multiple times.
“First, she tried to hit him over the head with a rock,” said prosecutor Ashley Stetson. “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.”
Stetson also stated that when the victim’s 12-year-old sister attempted to intervene, Encinas bit her.
Encinas indicated she had also considered drowning her son in a canal, according to prosecutors.
Authorities have not released information regarding possible drug or alcohol involvement or whether Encinas has a history of mental illness.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Prosecutors say the mother admitted to planning her son’s death and made multiple failed attempts.
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Published: May 29, 2025 7:00 am ET
Erica Encinas (via Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
MESA, AZ — An Arizona woman is in custody after police say she attempted to kill her 8-year-old son on numerous occasions.
According to the Mesa Police Department, officers responded to a residence near Broadway Road and Center Street around 6:15 a.m. Sunday after a woman called 911 and reported she had physically assaulted her son.
When officers arrived, they found the child with serious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, KPNX reported.
The child’s mother, 36-year-old Erica Christine Encinas, was arrested and booked into jail. She was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault-strangulation, aggravated assault on a minor, and child abuse.
According to KPHO, prosecutors laid out their case in a court hearing on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Encinas allegedly told officers she had been planning to kill her son—who has special needs—“for a while” and had attempted to do so multiple times.
“First, she tried to hit him over the head with a rock,” said prosecutor Ashley Stetson. “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.”
Stetson also stated that when the victim’s 12-year-old sister attempted to intervene, Encinas bit her.
Encinas indicated she had also considered drowning her son in a canal, according to prosecutors.
Authorities have not released information regarding possible drug or alcohol involvement or whether Encinas has a history of mental illness.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Woman Accused of Trying to Kill Young Disabled Son Using Rock, Trash Bag, and Rosary
Prosecutors say the mother admitted to planning her son’s death and made multiple failed attempts.
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 29, 2025 7:00 am ET
Erica Encinas (via Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
MESA, AZ — An Arizona woman is in custody after police say she attempted to kill her 8-year-old son on numerous occasions.
According to the Mesa Police Department, officers responded to a residence near Broadway Road and Center Street around 6:15 a.m. Sunday after a woman called 911 and reported she had physically assaulted her son.
When officers arrived, they found the child with serious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, KPNX reported.
The child’s mother, 36-year-old Erica Christine Encinas, was arrested and booked into jail. She was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault-strangulation, aggravated assault on a minor, and child abuse.
According to KPHO, prosecutors laid out their case in a court hearing on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Encinas allegedly told officers she had been planning to kill her son—who has special needs—“for a while” and had attempted to do so multiple times.
“First, she tried to hit him over the head with a rock,” said prosecutor Ashley Stetson. “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.”
Stetson also stated that when the victim’s 12-year-old sister attempted to intervene, Encinas bit her.
Encinas indicated she had also considered drowning her son in a canal, according to prosecutors.
Authorities have not released information regarding possible drug or alcohol involvement or whether Encinas has a history of mental illness.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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