Authorities have apprehended a 17-year-old Florida resident for allegedly attempting to murder his 77-year-old adoptive mother by poisoning her milk with bleach. The teenager, whose identity has been withheld due to his age, was reportedly upset with his mother and expressed a desire to no longer live with her. He was arrested on Saturday and faces charges of attempted murder, poisoning food or water, and aggravated abuse of an elderly person.
The incident came to light through body camera footage released by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The footage, which has been blurred to protect the identity of the victim, shows deputies questioning the elderly woman outside her home. She recounts the incident, stating that her son had added bleach to her milk, which she discovered upon tasting it.
The elderly woman explained that she had poured the milk into a glass from its original container, which she believes was where the bleach was added. She drank a small amount of the milk, enough to taste the bleach, before stopping. The video then shows an officer escorting the handcuffed teenager out of the house, stating that he had been found hiding in a bedroom with a dog.
The incident occurred on South Brickell Drive in Deltona on Saturday morning. The elderly woman had poured herself a glass of milk from her refrigerator, which she described as having an “intense chemical taste.” Given recent disagreements with her adopted son, she quickly suspected him of attempting to poison her. Deputies confirmed that the milk had a strong odor reminiscent of bleach.
Further investigation revealed that the victim was the only person in the household who consumed milk, leading authorities to believe she was the intended target. The victim’s other son also confirmed that there had been ongoing disputes between his mother and the suspect.
During a search of the residence, deputies found a bottle of Clorox bleach in the laundry room. The bottle was located in a dusty area with a clear outline, suggesting it had been recently moved. Upon being taken to the police station, the teenager reportedly confessed to the attempted poisoning, citing his anger towards his adoptive mother and his desire to leave the home.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and was subsequently released.