Mother Allegedly Stabbed 4-Year-Old Son 41 Times Before Leaving Body Wrapped in Christmas Blanket: Police

Janet Garcia, 27, has been charged with murder in connection to the death of her son Ariel Garcia, per police

• Ariel Garcia was reported missing after his mother's roommate allegedly found a bloody handprint in their home, per authorities

• Just before his disappearance, his grandmother was granted emergency custody over him due to alleged substance abuse by his mother, Janet Garcia, authorities say

• Janet allegedly gave police inconsistent statements following his disappearance, sparking suspicion among investigators, according to authorities
  

A Washington state woman who was arrested in March in connection with the death of her toddler allegedly stabbed the child 41 times and left his body wrapped in a Christmas blanket on the side of the road, authorities say.

Janet Garcia, 27, was arrested on charges of murder and assault of a minor after her son, 4-year-old Ariel Garcia, was found dead along a highway in Pierce County, Wash., on March 28, Everett Police said in a statement at the time.

Police discovered his body a day after Ariel was reported missing on March 27, authorities said. Janet was arrested for “making false and misleading statements within a few hours of Ariel being reported missing," per authorities.

The Snohomish County medical examiner said Ariel died from “homicidal violence."

On Friday, Janet was charged with first-degree murder and domestic violence with a deadly weapon, per The Seattle Times, KOMO News and FOX 13 Seattle.

In court on Monday, she pleaded not guilty to the murder charges, per FOX 13 Seattle, KIRO 7 and KING 5. Her plea to the domestic violence charge was not immediately clear.

Related: Mom Charged with Murder After Her Son, 4, Is Found Dead in Washington

In late March, Ariel was reported missing when a roommate living with his family discovered blood in the apartment, FOX 13 Seattle and The Seattle Times report, citing charging documents.

The roommate reported a large bloodstain in the living room as well as a bloody handprint the size of a child's palm, per probable cause documents reviewed by The Seattle Times.

Ariel's body was found partially wrapped in a Christmas blanket a day later, My Northwest reported, citing authorities.

Prior to Ariel’s disappearance, authorities say Janet’s mother, Maria Garcia, was granted emergency custody of her two children when she filed for legal custody citing Janet’s “long history of alcohol and substance abuse,” according to FOX 13 Seattle.

On the day of Ariel's disappearance, Maria Garcia went to Janet’s residence to serve the papers when she found blood in the apartment, court documents state, according to The Everett Herald.

Janet allegedly said on several occasions that Ariel had fallen and hit his head, according to a probable cause statement cited by KING 5 and The Seattle Times. Janet also allegedly told Maria that she had given Ariel up for adoption and was checking herself into a rehab facility, authorities said, per The Seattle Times.

During their investigation, authorities say they further learned about Janet's alleged abuse from her 7-year-old son, according to several outlets. The child alleged his mother was "too aggressive with him," authorities claimed, according to FOX 13 Seattle.

The alleged abuse included Janet dragging him down the stairs and hurting his head, a prosecutor claimed, per the outlet.

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In a GoFundMe created following Ariel's death, he is being remembered as the most "loving little man."

"Never did I ever see him walking around without a smile," his aunt wrote on the fundraiser. "He loved dancing, jumping and running but most of all, he loved his little bike."

Janet is being held on $3 million bail and is set for her next court appearance in June, online court records show.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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