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Relative Defends Mom Accused In Son's Death
POSTED: 10:23 am MST February 19,
2008
UPDATED: 10:32 am MST February 19,
2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Relatives of a Tempe woman who allegedly shot and killed her teenage son said they blame the boy's death on the woman's mental illness.Cynthia Hernandez, 46, suffers from bipolar disorder, said family member Joseph Lupear.Hernandez allegedly shot her son, 14-year-old Jeremy Barragan, with his hunting rifle late Thursday or early Friday.Lupear, Jeremy's brother-in-law, said the entire family had attended a barbecue Thursday evening.
Jeremy and his father, Leonard Barragan, went home shortly before 11 p.m. and Barragan saw his son go to sleep, Lupear said.Sometime before 7 a.m. Friday, Lupear said, Hernandez returned home and shot Jeremy.Barragan called 911 around 8 a.m. after he woke to find his son dead, according to Tempe police.Lupear said Hernandez has been on medication for bipolar disorder for years, and that the family blamed Jeremy's death on her condition.Hernandez had no recollection of the shooting when she was arrested, Lupear said. He said Hernandez broke down when she realized what had happened.Hernandez was arrested on one count of first-degree murder. Her bond was set at $250,000, cash only. If released, she will be placed under supervision with an electronic monitor, according to court paperwork.Lupear said Hernandez was being held in a padded cell and was placed under suicide watch.Hernandez and Barragan, her common law husband, moved to Tempe with their son from San Antonio, Texas, about eight months ago. Lupear said the family was very happy and Hernandez was very protective of her son.Jeremy's friends said they hoped to organize a car wash to raise money to send his body back to Texas for burial.
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