A Washington state mother has been charged with the brutal murder of her 4-year-old son by stabbing her toddler 41 times, according to court documents obtained by Fox 13.
Janet Garcia, 27, was charged with first-degree murder Friday in the March 27 death of her son, Ariel Garcia, in Everett, Washington.
Charging documents initially identified 16 “sharp wounds,” but an autopsy determined there were 41.
Washington mother accused of killing, stabbing her 4-year-old son 16 times: REPORT
At Garcia's arraignment Monday, prosecutors argued that the number of stabbings showed the attack on Ariel was “prolonged,” the Everett Herald reported.
The autopsy revealed that Ariel died of “homicidal violence.”
A grandmother was granted emergency custody of her 4-year-old grandson just days before the child was reported missing and later found dead, court documents reveal. (Everett Police Department)
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Charging documents said Garcia relapsed on methamphetamine.
On March 27, Garcia's roommate discovered a blood stain in their apartment and alerted local police.
The Washington State Patrol issued an endangered missing person alert for Ariel in the early hours of March 28, several hours after she was last seen, and the Everett Police Department launched a regional search effort involving nearly 100 officers, agents and investigators from multiple jurisdictions, including the FBI.
The documents detail the discovery of Ariel's body with 41 stab wounds, near Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).
Surveillance footage showed Garcia carrying a “toddler-sized object” wrapped in a blanket.
The mother of the 4-year-old boy found dead in Washington state has been arrested in connection with his death. (Everett Police Department)
Custody battle:
Just days before the 4-year-old's brutal murder, her grandmother filed for “emergency minor guardianship,” saying the child's mother had “a long history of alcoholism and drug abuse that has worsened in recent months.
According to court documents obtained by the station, Garcia and his mother, Ariel's grandmother, were arguing about Garcia not being able to see his children.
The child's grandmother also filed for emergency custody of Garcia's other child, Ariel's 7-year-old half-brother, the same day Ariel was reported missing.
Charging documents state that during the investigation, family members reported observing Garcia being “physically and verbally aggressive” toward her two young children.
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When investigators spoke to the 7-year-old after his mother's arrest, he said Garcia had “hurt him a lot” and was “too aggressive with him,” according to court documents.
The child alleged that his mother choked him and dragged him down the stairs, and that her treatment caused him a headache.
Garcia remains incarcerated in the Snohomish County Jail, held on $3 million bail.
If convicted, she faces life in prison.
Fox News' Stepheny Price contributed to this report.