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Document: Mom Accused Of Killing Son On Drugs
Woman In Padded Cell, Under Suicide Watch
POSTED: 8:14 pm MST February 19,
2008
UPDATED: 7:27 am MST February 20,
2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -- A Tempe woman who police say fatally shot her teenage son in the head with a rifle had gone four nights without sleep, and was on alcohol, marijuana, and mood-altering medications, according to a court document released Tuesday.The document said that Cynthia Hernandez, 45, placed a towel over the head of her sleeping son and shot him with a rifle at point-blank range above the left eye on Thursday.Jeremy Barragan, 14, was found dead the next morning by his father.Hernandez has been booked into Maricopa County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.The court document also said Hernandez admitted to shooting her son, but told police she believed he was still alive and that the dead boy must be a "lookalike."On Monday, the woman’s relatives said they blame the boy's death on the woman's mental illness.Hernandez suffers from bipolar disorder, said family member Joseph Lupear.
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.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.ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: A young Gilbert woman whose daughter reportedly remains in a permanent vegetative state after nearly drowning in the bathtub is now facing criminal prosecution because of the incident. CLICK HERE for details. MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to late-breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away! CLICK HERE for images.
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