Who is Bethany Joy Fleming? Indiana woman nearly battered her 10-month-old son to death before trying to kill herself
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: An Indiana mother was taken into custody earlier this week after she reportedly tried to kill her son, almost battering the 10-year-old boy to death by striking him in the head with a hammer and then attempting to kill herself.
Bethany Joy Fleming, 32, was arrested on Thursday, October 5, and charged with one count of attempted intentional murder.
When did the authorities find out about the incident?
According to a press release on Thursday, October 5, from the City of Fort Wayne Police Department, FWPD officers responded to an emergency call regarding an “Unknown Problem” at the Tyler Terrace Apartments complex located in the 1200 block of Ralph Avenue, which is about 120 miles northeast of Indianapolis, at about 5.36 pm on October 3.
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities said they located an adult female, later identified as Fleming and a male child, both of whom were said to be suffering “life threatening injuries.”
The department’s homicide unit was dispatched to the scene and took charge of the investigation.
Why did the woman try to kill her son?
As of now, police did not release any details. They only said that the adult female was initially taken to the hospital for medical treatment and was taken into custody on one count of attempted murder after being discharged.
However, according to NBC-affiliate WPTA, a copy of the probable cause affidavit revealed the horrifying new details about the circumstances of Fleming’s arrest.
As per the document, Fleming herself was the one who dialed the emergency responders, saying that she believed someone was coming to her home to take her and her son away and sell them into a sex trafficking ring.
“So I tried to kill him, I think I killed him, and I stabbed myself,” she allegedly said while on the line with 911. “Please my name is Bethany.”
Bethany Joy Fleming thought that striking her child 'was the only way'
After police arrived at the crime scene, they initially located Fleming inside of her apartment. She was reportedly bleeding from an apparent stab wound to the neck and had allegedly reiterated her belief that she and her son were about to be sold into sex slavery.
When authorities asked her if she had done anything to harm herself or her 10-year-old boy, she allegedly responded that she had struck the child in the head with a hammer, explaining that “she thought this was the only way.”
What happened to Bethany Joy Fleming's son?
Fleming and her son were both transported to a local hospital where the child was reportedly diagnosed with a fractured skull as well as a brain bleed.
He was admitted and immediately rushed into emergency surgery. Police said that doctors were unsure if the boy would survive his injuries, describing him as being "in critical condition."
Fleming is currently being held in the Allen County Jail without bond.