A 48-year-old Homestead woman is facing two felony charges after her teenage daughter told police that her mother pressed a butter knife against her neck because she was running late for school. Estela Torres-Henriquez was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Miami-Dade Jail on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and child abuse with no great bodily harm.
According to Us Weekly, the teen reported the alleged abuse to police once she arrived at South Dade Senior High School, telling officers the incident happened earlier that same day at the family's home in Homestead. The arrest came after her daughter described what unfolded in her bedroom that morning.
Police said Torres-Henriquez used a butter knife to unlock her daughter's bedroom door and began yelling at her because she was going to be late for school, according to Law & Crime. The outlet reports that she then waved the knife near her daughter's face before placing it against the side of her neck. The teen told police she feared for her life during the encounter, the site reports.
Sister Says She Feared Being Threatened Too
The victim's sister gave police a similar account of what happened, backing up the teen's version of events. The sister also told officers she feared their mother would threaten her as well, according to the report.
Torres-Henriquez later went to the Homestead Police Department herself, saying she wanted to speak with the Department of Children and Families. She claimed she used the butter knife only to open her daughter's bedroom door because the girl was going to be late for school, and the station's report notes she denied using the knife to threaten her daughter or holding it close to her neck.
Charges and Bond
Torres-Henriquez was taken into custody at the Miami-Dade Jail, where online jail records show bond was set at $5,000 on the aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge, while no bond amount had yet been listed for the child abuse charge, per the same account. She remained in custody as of the report.
Under Florida law, a person commits aggravated battery when, while committing a battery, they use a deadly weapon, according to Florida Statute § 784.045, which classifies the offense as a second-degree felony. Separately, aggravated child abuse under Florida Statute § 827.03 occurs when a person commits aggravated battery on a child, and is classified as a first-degree felony unless otherwise specified in the statute.
Unresolved Questions in the Case
It remains unclear whether Torres-Henriquez has entered a plea or retained legal counsel, and her next court date was not listed. Homestead Police did not immediately respond to a request for case updates, and the investigation is ongoing.
