Mother Pleads Guilty After Fracturing 10-Year-Old Son’s Skull with Hammer and Stabbing Herself, Fearing They Would End Up in Slavery
Indiana – In a sad case from Indiana, a 33-year-old mother, named B. Fleming, pleaded guilty to serious charges in connection with a distressing occurrence involving her 10-year-old son. Fleming, who was charged with attempted murder and neglect resulting in serious bodily injury, admits to beating her kid with a hammer in a desperate attempt to defend them from an alleged threat.
On October 3, 2023, police officers went to a frightening situation at the Fleming home. She had made a terrifying 911 call, saying, “So I tried to kill him, I think I killed him, and I stabbed myself.” Officers arrived to find Fleming and her son with life-threatening injuries. The boy, discovered in bed, was in great agony, wailing and showing signs of acute trauma. The investigation indicated that Fleming hit her son in the head with a hammer before stabbing herself with a knife. This attack was motivated by Fleming’s erroneous assumption that they were about to be abducted and sold into slavery.
The boy had a broken skull and a hemorrhage on or near his brain as a result of the hammer strike. The 10-year-old boy’s health was originally classified as serious and life-threatening. According to reports, medical personnel were doubtful whether the boy would survive, but he is still alive. After being arrested, Fleming was initially charged with attempted murder. However, as part of a plea deal, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of neglect of a dependent, a level 3 felony, citing mental illness as a factor. The plea deal called for a total term of 12 years, with seven years suspended. Fleming will spend three years in Corrections Residential Services, followed by two years in home detention.
This plea deal took into account Fleming’s mental health as well as the circumstances surrounding the terrible event. The agreement strikes a balance between sanctioning the illegal act and recognizing the importance of mental health care. The plea deal is subject to approval by Superior Court Judge D. Zent, and a sentencing hearing is set for September 30. This case demonstrates the substantial obstacles and considerations in dealing with criminal conduct committed while under the influence of mental illness.
Fleming’s case has highlighted the significance of mental health support and the difficulty of determining legal liability when mental health issues are present. The court ordered Fleming to undergo psychological exams, highlighting the importance of mental health screenings in legal proceedings. The goal in this case remains to ensure justice for the young victim while also addressing the underlying conditions that led to such a desperate act. The outcome of the future sentencing will most likely set a precedent for comparable cases in which mental health is a significant factor in criminal activity.