Fla. mom allegedly tried to kill teen son

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A South Florida woman said she wanted to kill her son because she could not take care of him, and injured him with a bat and knife, police allege.

Sheronda Hall Roselva, 50, appeared in court Monday, where bail was set at $50,000, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. She was arrested Sunday after a neighbor in Lauderhill called police.

John Burroughs said he saw Roselva with a kitchen knife and said she told him to call 911. Burroughs said Roselva's 17-year-old son had just run toward him calling for help: "Hey mister! Could you help? My momma is trying to kill me!"

The teenager told police he was napping when his mother started hitting him with a bat. She allegedly attacked him with the knife as well.

"I wanted to kill my son because I cannot take care of him, and I don't want him to suffer," Roselva allegedly told police.

A public defender said Roselva is unemployed, WTVJ-TV, Fort Lauderdale, reported.

She is charged with aggravated child abuse. The boy had cuts and bruises.