HOUSTON -- A mother is accused of stabbing and mutilating her 4-year-old son in northwest Harris County Thursday. Deputies say the 23-year-old woman cut of the boy's genitals.



The afternoon was rocked by the disturbing scene in the front yard of a home on James River Lane.

Neighbors say they saw the 23 mother stabbing her 4-year-old son there.

Even the deputies who arrived to subdue her are dealing with some difficult emotions.



"The scene itself was a terrible one for deputies to arrive to," said Thomas Gilliland with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "In the course of our events every day to keep our streets safe, these are the things that weigh very heavily on us when we arrive at things like this."



Investigators say the mother had no top on as she allegedly stabbed her son with an object in the front yard. There is also a scene inside the home.

The boy was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital, but not before being critically injured.



"I hope he's OK," said neighbor Sarah Moore. "I pray to God he is. It's sad and I don't understand how a mother could do that. I have two babies of my own and I couldn't fathom. It's heartbreaking.



As deputies try to find those answers, neighbors only know of one thing to do.



"I'm going to continue to pray for them," said Moore.



Deputies say the mother and child were the only ones home at the time.









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