A New Jersey woman accused of stabbing her 2-year-old brother in the chest allegedly told police she heard voices giving her that order.
Marlene Rodriguez, 20, was babysitting her younger brother when she said she heard voices, belonging to a Puerto Rican family she knows, compelling her to plunge a butcher’s knife into her sibling Saturday afternoon, according to court documents cited by NJ Advance Media.
Brick Township cops responded to a call at around 2:30 p.m. to a residence on Burke Lane, where they discovered a wounded toddler who was conscious and alert.
The child was rushed to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, where he was reportedly treated for a punctured lung and cardiac wall. He remained in stable condition on Wednesday.
The toddler’s injuries were discovered when another sister at the scene heard her little brother crying, the documents state. The three siblings’ parents were reportedly grocery shopping when the stabbing occurred.
Investigators said Rodriguez admitted that she knew what she did was wrong, but then claimed another voice told her to stop speaking to police if she didn’t want to go to jail.
She has since been charged with attempted murder, child endangerment and two weapons offenses, and is currently being held without bail at the Ocean County Jail, according to online records.
Rodriguez reportedly has a history of mental illness and substance abuse issues. On the day of the stabbing, she allegedly asked a cousin if she’d ever sacrificed anyone. When asked that same question back, the suspect didn’t answer.
