'Overwhelmed' Mom Tries To Saw Autistic Son's Head Off: Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — A Rockville woman faces life in prison after allegedly trying to saw off the head of her autistic son because she "felt overwhelmed," according to Montgomery County Police documents.

Kristina Naranch Petrie, 46, of Gaines Avenue faces life in prison for reportedly trying to saw off her 11-year-old son's head with a tree saw on March 12.

She is charged with attempted first-degree murder, which carries a life term; first-degree child abuse with a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison; and second-degree child abuse with a maximum penalty of 15 years.

An affidavit obtained by ABC7 says Petrie tried to decapitate her son because he wasn't doing his homework.

Court documents said Petrie "jammed" a bow saw against her son's neck and moved it "back and forth multiple times."

The child escaped from his mother and allegedly grabbed the bow saw from her.

Petrie reportedly told her husband what happened. He took his wife to MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, where she allegedly told hospital staff she felt "overwhelmed" and "was not doing enough to help her children with their autism."

Charging documents say Petrie told hospital staff that she "did not want her children to grow up to be a burden to society and that the children needed to die.”

The boy told police his mom “tried to kill” him. He was brought to a child advocacy center in Rockville called The Treehouse, where staff saw visible wounds on him, documents said.

Petrie is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court at 10 a.m. April 20.

Photo Montgomery Community Media