Florida Mother Charged with Attempted Murder for Allegedly Overdosing Autistic Sons
Authorities allege a Florida woman attempted to kill her two adult sons with autism by administering medication overdoses before taking one herself.
A Florida woman faces multiple felony charges after allegedly attempting to overdose her two adult sons, who have autism, with medication and then taking an overdose herself. Marilyn Elise Therrell, 68, was arrested on September 8 following a report of multiple overdoses at a home in Kissimmee.
Deputies arriving at the scene shortly after 10 a.m. found Therrell and her sons, Eric, 30, and Thomas Jr., 32, suffering from apparent medication overdoses. All three were transported to a local hospital, where they are expected to recover.
Investigators began to suspect the incidents were not accidental after gathering evidence and interviewing family members and the property's landlord. According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Therrell admitted during an interview on September 17 that she had been struggling to care for her sons following the death of her husband last year. She allegedly confessed to intentionally giving them medication overdoses in an attempt to kill them.
Therrell was subsequently booked into the Osceola County Jail and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult. Court records indicate her bond was set at $50,000.
The two sons remain hospitalized, and authorities stated they are expected to survive. Once discharged, they will be placed under the care of Florida’s Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services while the legal proceedings against their mother continue. The sheriff's office confirmed the investigation is ongoing. Therrell has not been convicted of any crime, and the allegations will be processed through the court system.