Patricia Ripley said her son was abducted by two black men, police said.
A Florida mother, who allegedly lied to police that her son with autism was abducted by two black men, was charged with the child’s murder, police said.
Patricia Ripley was allegedly seen on surveillance video pushing her son, Alejandro Ripley, into a canal on Thursday evening to drown the child, according to the police report.
Neighbors heard screams and came to the rescue of the 9-year-old non-verbal boy with autism, police said.
“An hour later she brought him to a different canal, this time, unfortunately, there was no one there to save him,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle at a press conference Saturday morning. “The tragic loss of a 9-year-old boy here and the loss of any young life, leaves us grieving. This boy’s senseless, senseless death will stay with us.”
If convicted, Patricia Ripley faces a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole.