A North Buffalo mother has been arrested and charged with fatally stabbing her eight-year-old son. Jessica Murphy, 29, has been charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Wednesday morning in Buffalo City Court and is being held without bail.
The incident occurred around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday on Lovering Avenue. The child, since identified as Jacob Noe, was taken to Women and Children's Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
According to court documents, Murphy told police "Everyone has to die. He had to die. I am saving him from going to hell.” When questioned, she made statements indicting her guilt, saying “How can you ask me this after I just murdered my baby?”
"A very tragic incident. My heart goes out to that family," commented Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown on Wednesday. "I'm very concerned about crime involving younger children."
"When crime impacts children, it touches all of us. It touches the community," he added.
Earlier this week, a 3-year-old and a 14-year-old-boy were shot in the Kensington-Bailey neighborhood. Police believe the 14-year-old may have been the target, and the three-year old was an innocent bystander while playing on his tricycle. Both are in critical condition, but are expected to survive.
Last week, 13-year-old Ameer Al Shammari was killed in the city's Black Rock neighborhood. Another 13-year-old, Jean Sanchez, has been arrested and charged with his murder.