Alyssa Pettibone, Arizona Mother, Charged With Fatally Shooting 2-Year-Old Son
A woman from Arizona was arrested on Monday and charged with fatally shooting her 2-year-old son before unsuccessfully trying to kill herself with a knife.
Alyssa Pettibone, 26, who lives in Buckeye, Arizona, was charged with second degree murder of a toddler, Hudson Pettibone, Fox News reported. The police received a 911 call around 4 p.m. local time (6 p.m. EST) Friday from the woman’s mother who informed them about a shooting inside her daughter’s home.
They arrived at the scene and found the toddler dead on the bathroom floor and Alyssa bleeding from multiple wounds. A 9 mm. handgun was lying near the deceased.
Pettibone was taken to the hospital following the incident. After spending two and a half days recovering from her injuries, she was released and immediately booked into Maricopa County jail.
Investigators did not look for another suspect in the case nor believed that there was a third person involved as they were convinced from the beginning that Alyssa was the one who killed her own son and then tried to kill herself.
Although the Buckeye police have not released many details regarding the incident it is believed the woman first fatally shot Hudson before turning the gun on herself. On finding the gun jammed, Alyssa picked up a knife and stabbed herself a number of times.
The investigators later examined the handgun and found that a round in the magazine had been loaded backward, jamming the gun and preventing it from being fired again, AZ Central, an affiliate of USA Today, reported. Alyssa’s mother also confirmed to the police that her daughter had held the gun to her temple before proceeding to stab herself.
When the police interviewed Alyssa, she showed signs of mental disturbance. She said she was sorry for her deed and knew she was in "deep, deep, deep," adding that "no one would understand…"
The police also said Alyssa exhibited "control/ownership/jealousy issues," and confessed that she "shot her baby, and tried to kill herself."
Alyssa was absent from her initial court hearing, which took place at the 4th Avenue Jail. The hearing was attended by her lawyer and her parents, during which the latter told the judge and they would keep an eye over their daughter.
Jeff Morris, a neighbor who lives down the street from the scene, told Fox 10 Phoenix he was shocked to hear of what happened.
"There was somebody injured, but no suspects, so I was thinking accidental or accidental shooting," Morris said. "I don't understand why a mother would do that to her child. You hear a lot about this… holidays bring out the worst in people I guess."
Morris added that he did not expect Alyssa to be involved in such a gruesome crime because she never caused any troubles. "It’s quiet, no problems with anybody," Morris said.
Alyssa is being held on a $750,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at the Maricopa County Superior Court on Dec. 22.
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