Boxcutter Used In Botched Murder/Suicide

"HOLLYWOOD, FL - Police said a murder-suicide attempt by a mother left her and her 3-year-old son hospitalized in critical condition.

"The two are expected to recover, but now the mother, Mirtha Arias, 48, faces attempted murder charges.

"Hollywood Police said the 14-year-old son of Arias found her and his little brother together inside their home, inside Apartment 3 at 6126 Cleveland Street, Thursday, at around 9 in the morning.

"Police said she cut her 3-year-old son's throat with a box cutter and then both sides of her neck after she became despondent following a recent court hearing involving the custody of the little boy. Both were transported to Memorial Regional Hospital by Hollywood Fire-Rescue in critical condition.

"The child had to be rushed straight into the operating room but not before telling police who did this to him. `The 3-year-old was able to tell us that his mother did this,` said Hollywood Police Lt. Scott Pardon.

"Police said there was no one else inside the home when the incident happened, and it was the woman's teenage son who discovered the scene. `We're interviewing several people at this time,` said Pardon. `There was another 14-year-old child of the 48-year-old lady inside the house, and he was the one who called 911 and reported it to authorities.`

"Neighbors noted that they saw the teen sitting in a police car talking to officers after they arrived on the scene. `He's always with his little brother,` said Sabrina Allen. `He's always taking care of him. They're good people. They're really good people. They don't have any problems. They do their laundry with us.`

"Neighbors said the family is relatively quiet, and they have never had any trouble with them. They said the woman is a single mother who cared for her children well."

From WSVN.com...