2-year-old boy hospitalized with “a stab wound to his chest” after his 20-year-old sister tried to kill him while inside their home; sister arrested
New Jersey – In a deeply unsettling incident in New Jersey, a 20-year-old woman, identified as M. Rodriguez, has been arrested and charged after her 2-year-old brother was found critically injured with a stab wound to his chest inside the family’s home. Authorities say Rodriguez attempted to kill the child in a brutal act that left first responders and investigators stunned.
Rodriguez now faces a series of serious charges, including attempted murder, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. She remains in custody at the county jail pending a detention hearing.
The investigation began just after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, when officers with the police department were dispatched to a home following a 911 call reporting a medical emergency. When officers entered the residence, they discovered the toddler suffering from what authorities described as “a stab wound to his chest.” Paramedics arrived moments later and immediately rushed the boy to a hospital. While his injuries were severe, officials confirmed the child was in stable condition as of the following morning. Though his life was not considered in danger at that point, the nature of the attack left a deep mark on everyone involved.
What followed was a swift and focused investigation involving the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Police Detective Bureau, and the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Their work led to the shocking conclusion that the person responsible for the stabbing was not a stranger—but the boy’s own sister. Detectives identified Rodriguez as the sole suspect in the case. She was taken into custody later that day and booked on multiple felony charges. Authorities have not publicly discussed any motive, leaving questions about what led to such an act of violence inside a family home.
Prosecutor B. Billhimer praised the coordinated response of the multiple agencies that took part in the investigation. Their quick work ensured the child received immediate medical care and that the suspect was swiftly brought into custody. Rodriguez is currently being held without bail while prosecutors prepare their case. A detention hearing will determine whether she will remain behind bars until trial. Her initial court appearance has yet to be scheduled. The incident has shaken the Brick Township community, where neighbors and officials alike are struggling to process how a young woman could allegedly turn a weapon on her toddler sibling.
For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the young boy, whose survival has been described as nothing short of miraculous. Prosecutors have remained tight-lipped about what may have provoked the attack, but the charges paint a grim picture of what unfolded behind the walls of that home. As the legal process begins to unfold, one fact remains undisputed: a child nearly lost his life in an act of violence that never should have happened. His sister now awaits judgment for what prosecutors say was an unthinkable betrayal of trust and family.
