Woman Charged With Killing Disabled Son Had Him Drink Washer Fluid to 'Free Him': Police

A Pennsylvania woman facing life in prison for the death of her 11-year-old adopted son allegedly told a state trooper that she poisoned him in an effort to "free him."

Mary Diehl called police in September to reporther son had died, telling police she believed it was caused by him suffocating in his bedding after having a seizure. However, toxicology reports uncovered lethal amounts of methane in his blood after his death and Diehl was charged with criminal homicide.

During Monday's court hearing, Pennsylvania State Trooper Kevin Geibel testified Diehl told police she gave Najir, her son, a half full cup of windshield washer fluid, according to the Erie Times-News. She reportedly said she knew he would drink anything he was given and that she did it to "free him."

The Erie Times-News reported Geibel also testified that when an investigator asked Diehl what she thought would happen to her son when he drank it, she responded, he "passes."

The admission, according to the Erie Times-News, occurred during questioning at the Meadville, Pennsylvania, state police barracks on November 8. Diehl was charged following her interview. She was denied bail and is currently being held in the Crawford County Correctional Facility, according to court records.

When she was called in for questioning on November 8, Diehl initially told investigators the 11-year-old was unable to walk or open a container. Geibel testified that Diehl said substances that might contain methanol were kept in one area of the home, which her son did not have access to.

In a search of the home, police found the washer fluid but did not find the cup the woman said she poured it into to give to Najir, according to the Erie Times-News.

Newsweek reached out to an attorney who was listed in court records as representing Diehl for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

A criminal complaint obtained by the Meadville Tribune alleged the poisoning occurred sometime between 8:30 p.m. on September 5 and 10 a.m. on September 6, hours before Diehl called police to report her son's death.

The Crawford County coroner initially determined Najir died of asphyxiation because of his seizure disorder, according to the Erie Times-News. An autopsy wasn't performed, but Crawford County Coroner Scott Schell had testing done on the 11-year-old's blood, which is when investigators' suspicions about Diehl piqued.

After obtaining the results of the toxicology reports, the coroner, in consultation with a forensic pathologist, determined Najir was caused by methanol toxicity.

At the time of Najir's death, another child was residing in the home but was not harmed, Paula DiGiacomo, first assistant district attorney for Crawford County, told the Meadville Tribune. The child was placed in the care of Diehl's relatives.

In Pennsylvania, first-degree murder is punishable by life in prison or even the death penalty. However, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order shortly after taking office that put a moratorium on executions. So, courts can still sentence someone to death, but they cannot be executed. Some suspect that could change when Wolf leaves office in 2022, as he cannot legally run for another term.