In a shocking act of violence, a California man faces attempted murder charges after authorities say he attacked his young son with a screwdriver and knife. Christopher Lee Kearns, 28, was arrested following the incident at a Santa Ana sober living facility where he allegedly told his 8-year-old boy he was going to "send him home to God" before the assault, as reported by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Kearns, who currently is being held on $700,000 bond, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder, one count of child abuse and endangerment, and carries two felony enhancements for personally using a deadly weapon. If convicted on all counts, he could spend up to 15 years and four months behind bars. The attack, which left the child with two neck wounds from a screwdriver and cuts on his hands, took place while the youngster's mother and stepfather waited outside the facility on February 10, 2024.
The harrowing ordeal unfolded as Kearns reportedly covered his son's mouth and nose to muffle his cries for help, then proceeded to stab him and slash his hands, in an attempt to silence a life barely begun. The onslaught was interrupted when another resident heard the child's screams and intervened, ultimately saving the boy from further harm. Following the attack, the young victim was rushed to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where he received the necessary medical attention.
"This little boy was in the fight for his life against his own father, by no fault of his own, and it is nothing short of a miracle that he managed to survive being stabbed twice in the neck," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated. Kearns is set for arraignment on March 1, 2024, at the Central Justice Center. According to the DA's office, Deputy District Attorney Bethel Cope-Vega of the Family Protection Unit will be prosecuting the case.
