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'I Snapped,' Minnesota Mom Says After Allegedly Throwing 11-Year-Old Son With Autism Off Fourth-Floor Balcony
Itayvia Lloyd's son survived the fall, but suffered a number of broken bones. The mother is also accused of attacking police officers who arrived at the scene.
A Minnesota mom allegedly threw her autistic son from their fourth-floor apartment balcony before proceeding to attack police officers responding to the scene.
Itayvia Lloyd, 33, dragged her 11-year-old autistic son out of bed and threw him from the balcony, police said.. He survived, but suffered a broken leg, a fractured jaw and head injuries, in addition to being "injured emotionally as well," St. Paul Police spokesman Steve Linders told Fox News.
First responders were summoned to the apartment complex after a concerned neighbor who witnessed the plunge reported it as a possible suicide attempt. Officers found the child lying in the courtyard, although he was unable to verbalize what happened at the time, the criminal complaint obtained by KMSP said.
The victim's 6-year-old brother was found unharmed in the apartment and told officers that the episode happened after a fight between Lloyd and her partner, the boys' stepmother, according to WCCO.
"Stories like this remind me of just how fragile and precious life is," St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell wrote in a Facebook statement on Monday afternoon. "My heart goes out to this child, his brother and all who love him."
An officer proceeded to approach Lloyd and instructed her to put her hands behind her back. As the officer prepared to place her in handcuffs, Lloyd "pulled away, cocked her right arm and threw a punch," according to the criminal complaint. The officer was able to block the punch.
When Lloyd was taken to her holding cell, another officer "stayed with her to try to keep her calm," but Lloyd approached him and spat in his face, the criminal complaint stated.
In her first interview with investigators, authorities said Lloyd behaved erratically and spoke incoherently, though they alleged she admitted to the crime, according to WCCO.
"I threw that kid off that balcony. He really fell. For real," she said, according to the criminal complaint.
In a follow-up interview with police officers, Lloyd spoke more coherently and allegedly admitted that she "snapped."
Lloyd faces a second-degree attempted murder charge in addition to two counts of fourth-degree assault of a police officer. Her bail has been set at $500,000 and her next court appearance is slated for May 26. It was not immediately clear if she had retained a lawyer whom could comment.
The victim's 6-year-old brother has been placed in protective custody, according to WCCO.
