An Arizona man in custody for killing his child’s mother has reportedly attempted to take his own life, and is now in a vegetative state.
As 12 News reports, Eric Maes attempted to take his own life this weekend while in a Maricopa County, Arizona, jail. The Sun Valley resident was arrested earlier this month after he snatched his toddler son while the boy’s mother, Brittany Walker-Martie, was loading him into her vehicle in Peoria. As Maes drove away, Walker-Martie tried to hang on to the vehicle, but was later thrown from the car. Emergency responders found her in grave condition but still alive, and she later died during surgery.
Authorities issued an AMBER Alert for Maes and his 10-month-old son Abel, who was found abandoned but unharmed early the next morning in Phoenix, about 25 miles away from where the child had been kidnapped. Police arrested Maes later that afternoon after a brief foot chase.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Maes claimed in a police interview that he intentionally hit Walker-Martie with her car after she was thrown from the vehicle. Though it is unclear if the story Maes told police was corroborated by witnesses. He was charged with first-degree murder, endangerment, theft and kidnapping following his arrest.
Authorities have not said how Maes attempted to kill himself this weekend, but the Maricopa County Attorney’s office said he is “medically incapacitated,” according to AZFamily.com. Walker-Martie’s family told 12 News that Maes is in a vegetative state.
Officials in Maricopa County have dropped all charges against Maes, as he is not expected to survive.
“We did not do this to show mercy for the defendant,” a Maricopa County Attorney’s Office spokesperson told AZFamily.com “We certainly did this because his parents were asking that of us.”
As 12 News reports, the attorney’s office spokesperson said that if Maes somehow recovers, the charges will be reinstated.
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