A Michigan woman allegedly bound her 11-year-old son by the wrists and locked him inside a car outside a cemetery before setting the vehicle on fire.
The 48-year-old woman is facing attempted murder and arson charges in connection with Tuesday’s incident. Authorities said the woman’s husband called police at 11:30 a.m., reporting that his wife might have harmed their son, according to WZZM.
Officers found an unoccupied 2014 Ford Focus at the Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle. They also noted that smoke coming from the passenger area, according to The Detroit News.
Deputies later located the mother and son talking to cemetery staff.
A statement from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said that the unidentified woman allegedly attempted to start a fire in the trunk while the child was inside the vehicle.
“The mother … attempted to ignite a fire using gasoline inside the passenger compartment where the boy sat,” the department wrote in the release.
“This fire did not ignite while the boy struggled to free himself from the vehicle. The mother then freed the boy from the vehicle and they walked away until locating an employee from the cemetery.”
A Roselawn employee is said to have freed the boy from the bindings.
The mother and son were taken to a nearby hospital, where the woman underwent an evaluation. She was transported to Monroe County Jail following her release from the hospital.
The New York Post reported that the 11-year-old was also discharged from the hospital.
Authorities have yet to reveal a possible motive.
The Monroe County Fire Investigation Team is continuing to investigate the incident. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Det. Sgt. Jeff Pauli told The Post that the suspect will be arraigned on Wednesday.