Sherri Telnas, 45, allegedly drowned her 12-year-old son to death and attempted to drown her seven-year-old, who survived, but is in critical condition (Picture: ABC)

A mother drowned her 12 year-old son a decade after she first attempted to murder him by submerging him in water, police say.

Sherri Telnas, 45, reportedly drowned her son, Jackson Telnas, in an irrigation ditch in a corn field in Porterville, California on Saturday.

Telnas allegedly tried to drown her seven year-old son as well, identified as Jacob Ray Telnas.

Both boys were rushed to the hospital where Jackson was pronounced dead and Jacob was listed in critical condition.


Witnesses reported that they saw Telnas walking ‘strangely’ with her children toward the field across from her home.

The boy’s were reportedly found in an irrigation ditch in a corn field (Picture: ABC 30)

A neighbor and the boys’ grandmother were trying to revive the them when deputies arrived.



Local 12 reported that this was not the first time Telnas tried to kill her child.

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In 2008, she tried to drown Jackson by walking into a river with him in Mineral County, Montana. She reportedly told police what she’d done afterwards.

She pleaded guilty of criminal endangerment and the boy’s father was given custody of his son, Local 10 reported, although it is unclear why Jackson and Jacob were with their mother on Saturday.

Sherri Telnas’ relatives told ABC News that the 2008 incident caused a rift in the family.

After Telnas reportedly tried to kill Jackson in 2008, the boy was placed in the custody of his father (Picture: ABC 30)

Tim Telnas and Elinor Brown said they are the victims’ uncle and aunt, but have not spoke to them for years.

Brown said: ‘Sherri wasn’t on the best of terms with the rest of the family,’ and added they found out about the first murder attempt through one of Telnas’ former coworkers.

‘None of us believed it at first, because we found out through an old co-worker and at first it was like, “Oh yeah that happened ten years ago.”‘