Texas woman suffocates her 8-year-old son with a pillow because 'demons told her to sacrifice him'
A woman from Irving, Texas, has been arrested and charged for the murder of her eight-year-old son who she reportedly killed because "demons told her to sacrifice him".
Irving police responded to a call about an unconscious person in the 2600 block of Peach Tree Lane at 7.26 am on Sunday, June 23. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the body of an eight-year-old boy, who was later identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner as Joevani De La Pena. The boy's mother, identified as 30-year-old Tisha Sanchez, was arrested later.
Irving police released a press release regarding the case, stating that the "motive for this murder is still unclear however the investigation is progressing."
A relative, while talking to authorities, said that Sanchez had told her that "demons told her to sacrifice her son" and that "she needed to forgive her", according to the arrest warrant. Relatives reportedly told officers that the child was suffocated with a pillow, according to NBCDFW.
Sanchez has also been charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a public servant, according to Dallas County Jail records. The charges reportedly stem from an incident in November when police were called to a clothing store off State Highway 183 about a mother who was dragging her son around the store, according to police.
Irving police department said that officers decided that Sanchez was in need of mental help and took her to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Child Protective Services were notified of the incident and the agency conducted a full investigation into the case, according to spokesperson Shari Pulliam. It is not yet clear how much time Sanchez spent in the hospital before being released.
"We did our due diligence," Pulliam said, adding that the boy was interviewed earlier before the incident and had said she was a "great mom." The agency had subsequently closed its investigation.
The child's relatives set up a fund-gathering page to cover his funeral expenses that stated: "Many hearts and lives have been forever altered by the tragic loss of my nephew Joevani. We can't begin to wrap our heads around his death. We, like everyone want answers, answers that we may never get. Joevani had a very positive and playful spirit. His caring nature touched countless lives and created many, many friendships."
The page added about the eight-year-old: "He had a contagious smile with an even bigger heart."