A Seattle mother is charged with murdering her son after authorities allege she beat her son to death with an extension cord.
Authorities allege that Denaya Young hit her son because she believed he had not completed his chores, according to reports from KIRO, King 5 and the Seattle Times, which cite a police affidavit.
Citing the medical examiner, the outlets reported that Young’s 14-year-old son suffered 1,172 injuries as a result of the beating before his eventual death on Jan. 30.
King 5 reports that the medical examiner believes the teen died as the result of Sudden Inflammatory Response Syndrome, which is when the body sends too much blood to different injuries that it can’t support the heart.
KIRO and the Times, citing the affidavit, all report that Young allegedly told police she “lost count” of how many times she hit her son.
During the alleged fatal beating, police say that the teen’s three siblings were home at the time, KIRO reported.
Young is charged with second-degree murder in connection with her son’s death. It is not immediately clear if she has retained an attorney or entered a plea.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
