MIAMI, FL – Police in Miami arrested a woman Thursday morning after she allegedly stabbed her son with a fork during a heated dispute at their home over finances and his school attendance.
Leticia Puentes, 39, now faces an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge following the incident, according to Miami-Dade County jail records. The episode unfolded at a residence near Northwest 72nd Street, situated roughly six miles north of downtown Miami, police said.
Officers in Miami responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at around 8:15 a.m. After arriving at the scene, they encountered a young male with a fresh puncture wound behind his right ear and apparent bleeding, officials stated. He told officers the injury occurred during a physical struggle with his mother.
Authorities said the argument began over a phone bill and concerns about the son’s recent tardiness at school. The dispute quickly escalated, with the son allegedly throwing household items during the confrontation, based on preliminary police accounts.
As emotions flared, the confrontation turned physical, culminating when Puentes allegedly seized a fork and stabbed her son just behind his ear, according to the police affidavit.
Emergency medical personnel were called to the north Miami scene, where they provided treatment for the son’s injuries on the spot. The extent of his injuries was not considered life-threatening.
During questioning, Puentes reportedly admitted to using the fork in the altercation but asserted that she acted in self-defense. Miami police did not release additional details about the nature of the struggle or the immediate circumstances leading to the stabbing.
Puentes was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. She remained at the facility as of Friday, held on a $3,000 bond, jail records indicated.
Authorities have not disclosed the son’s age, and it remains unclear if additional charges may be filed as the investigation proceeds.
Child welfare agencies were notified about the incident for further review, and police say the matter remains under investigation.