5-year-old boy hit and kicked his mother when she covered his face with a blanket as she believed it was better for him to be suffocated than shot after hearing voices telling her to do so
Reports show that a 41-year-old woman, later identified as Jennifer, has been accused of the suffocation death of her 5-year-old son, later identified as Samson, in a case that authorities suggest may be deeply intertwined with mental health issues. The charges levied against her include general criminal homicide, aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury to a victim under the age of 13, and strangulation.
Earlier this week, on Monday, officers and agents responded to a distressing 911 call reporting an unconscious child at a senior living facility. Upon arrival, first responders discovered young Samson unresponsive in a first-floor bedroom, with the coroner estimating the time of death to be several hours prior but less than a full day. This tragic event unfolded in a residence attached to the facility, where Jennifer and her son were staying, separate from the regular residents due to Jennifer’s mother owning and operating the facility.
Preliminary investigations, along with witness statements and physical evidence, pointed towards a homicide, with indications of a suffocation-type death. Jennifer was taken to prison and is held without bond, pending further legal proceedings. Further details emerged from the criminal complaint, shedding light on the chilling circumstances leading to Samson’s death. Jennifer reportedly claimed to investigators that she was instructed by a voice from a “machine box” to smother her son to prevent him from going to hell, indicating an alleged delusion involving a character named “Kayla” and hallucinatory voices dictating her actions.
These voices purportedly convinced Jennifer that law enforcement was coming and would shoot Samson if she did not act, leading her to the tragic decision to smother her child with a blanket and her own hands. Jennifer admitted using a blanket to cover the boy’s face and then putting her hand over his nose and mouth. She reportedly said the child put up a fight, repeatedly biting, hitting, and kicking her. She also allegedly told investigators that she believed it was better for her son to be smothered than shot. Jennifer’s arraignment is scheduled for February 20.
