A 17-year-old Florida resident has been taken into custody on suspicion of attempting to poison his 77-year-old adoptive mother by adding bleach to her milk. The teenager, whose name has not been disclosed due to his minor status, was reportedly disgruntled with his mother and had expressed a wish to move out. He was arrested on Saturday and is facing charges of attempted murder, food or water poisoning, and aggravated abuse of an elderly person.
The incident was brought to public attention through body camera footage released by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The video, which has been edited to protect the victim’s identity, depicts deputies questioning the elderly woman outside her residence. She narrates the incident, revealing that her son had spiked her milk with bleach, which she detected upon tasting it.
The elderly woman further detailed that she had poured the milk into a glass from its original container, where she suspects the bleach was added. She consumed a small quantity of the milk, enough to detect the bleach, before ceasing. The footage then displays an officer leading the handcuffed teenager out of the house, revealing that he had been discovered hiding in a bedroom with a dog.
The incident transpired on South Brickell Drive in Deltona on a Saturday morning. The elderly woman had poured herself a glass of milk from her refrigerator, which she described as having a strong chemical flavor. Given her recent disagreements with her adopted son, she quickly suspected him of trying to poison her. Deputies corroborated that the milk had a potent smell akin to bleach.
Further inquiries revealed that the victim was the sole milk consumer in the household, leading authorities to deduce she was the intended target. The victim’s other son also confirmed that there had been ongoing conflicts between his mother and the accused.
During a search of the premises, deputies discovered a bottle of Clorox bleach in the laundry room. The bottle was found in a dusty area with a clear outline, indicating it had been recently moved. Upon being transported to the police station, the teenager reportedly admitted to the attempted poisoning, attributing his actions to his resentment towards his adoptive mother and his wish to leave the house.
The victim was transported to a local hospital for assessment and was subsequently discharged.