NY mother, who stabbed son with CP to death claiming it was a mercy killing, will likely face criminal charges, police say

From the NY Daily News:

A hospitalized Queens woman will likely face criminal charges after fatally stabbing her wheelchair-bound son in a botched mercy killing-suicide, police sources said March 3.

Migdalia Vera, 57, insisted she only plunged the knife into her adult son after his struggle with cerebral palsy became too overwhelming - and he asked for her help to end his life, the sources said.

A highly-ranked police official briefed on the case said Vera initially called 911 to report that she had killed her son after an argument.

"Later she said he had wanted her to help him kill himself," the official told the Daily News. "He got the knife, and was asking her to stab him with it."

Charges were pending against Vera, who stabbed herself twice - one on the left wrist, and again on her left side - after killing her son, police said.

Mercy killing is illegal under state law.

Police found Rene Vera, 38, stabbed in the midsection about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday at the family's apartment at the Latimer Houses.

He was found face up on his bed, with a foot-long knife resting on his chest, cops said.

A second 7-inch knife was found on the floor of the Flushing apartment. Cops said the two were alone in the third-floor apartment when the stabbings began.

Migdalia Vera's husband, accompanied by other family members, left the apartment without speaking to reporters.

The suspected killer mom was in stable condition at New York Hospital-Queens with a self-inflicted stab wound. She was expected to remain hospitalized for at least another day, cops said.

Neighbors were stunned by allegations of the son's death at his mother's hands.

"Oh my God, I'm shocked," said Nancy Villanueva, 36. "He was always smiling. He was a nice guy."

Another resident said the son couldn't speak much, but he would acknowledge people by flashing a grin.

"He would look at you and say hello and smile," said Barbara Tyce-Butler, 57, a Latimer Houses resident since 2004.

The woman said Migdalia Vera was a pleasant neighbor, although it sometimes appeared the weight of caring for her son became hard to bear.

"I've never seen her smile," said Tyce-Butler. "She looked like she was depressed maybe."

But Tyce-Butler said there was never any sign of conflict between Vera and her son.

"I never thought she would do that," said Tyce-Butler. "It's sad."