Mom sent eerie texts before police say she killed her son

Philip Short says he suspects stepdaughter Tashawna Caldwell's interest in Santeria was bad. “Something must have gotten ahold of her,” he said. Philip Short says he suspects stepdaughter Tashawna Caldwell's interest in Santeria was bad. “Something must have gotten ahold of her,” he said. Photo: Photos By Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Photos By Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Mom sent eerie texts before police say she killed her son 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

POTEET — A woman who told police she fatally stabbed her son Sunday remained in jail Monday, with bond set at $1 million.

Tashawna Caldwell was being held in Atascosa County on one count of capital murder. She is accused of stabbing her son, Caiden Parker, who would have turned 2 on Wednesday.

According to authorities, Caldwell attacked her sister Shatana and her sister's infant son about 1 a.m. Sunday. While her sister and nephew barricaded themselves in a bedroom, Caldwell used a knife from the kitchen to stab her son, according to the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office.

When deputies arrived, they found Caldwell “unclothed and ranting and raving.”

Caldwell's stepfather said the night of the slaying, his stepdaughter sent him a series of text messages that alarmed him.

“Call YOUR NEIGHBORS BEFORE YOU COME,” she wrote in one.

By the time Philip Short saw the messages early Sunday morning, it was too late.

To read more about this story, go to ExpressNews.com.

emoravec@express-news.net

Twitter: @EvaRuth