A West Valley mother is facing severe legal repercussions after her young son was discovered bruised and bloodied, claiming she had attempted to take his life. The woman, identified as Petrice Shirley Mary Garcia, also known as Petrice Gustafson, was charged with attempted aggravated murder among other charges following the horrific incident last Saturday, per Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, as reported by ABC4.
According to authorities, the troubling case unfolded when the 7-year-old victim sought help from neighbors, triggering a police response. KSL reports witnesses told investigators they found the boy going door to door, visibly in distress. The mother had reportedly stated openly, "Call the cops, I tried killing my son," and subsequently engaged in a physical altercation with two neighbors, one of whom managed to subdue her until police arrived.
Upon entering Garcia's home, the scene included a blood-stained bathtub and a shattered statue, allegedly the means used in the assault on her son. The child, who later recounted his ordeal to law enforcement, sustained a mild traumatic brain injury and multiple scalp lacerations necessitating medical attention. Notably, while in custody at a local hospital, Garcia also attempted to disarm an officer, touching his weapon and prompting additional charges as conveyed by KUTV.
