An Inkster woman with a history of mental instability has been charged in the physical abuse and attempted murder of her 1- and 3-year-old children on New Year's Day.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Sara Vae Boles, 36, with two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of first-degree child abuse, and one count of resisting and obstructing police officers. The charges are in connection with the discovery of the two injured children in a home on the 29520 block of Grandview Street by police officers called to the scene to check on the welfare of the family at about 9 a.m. Jan. 1.
When officers arrived at the home, according to police reports, there was no response to their repeated knocks. As the officers walked around the home, they heard a child crying in distress and forced their way into the home through the front door.
The officers discovered the defendant in the bathroom kneeling over the 1-year-old boy who was unconscious and not breathing with obvious wounds to his neck. They immediately administered CPR to the child and resuscitated him while the 3-year-old girl continued to cry in distress also suffering from wounds to her neck. Officers reported a bloody knife visible in the bathtub.The woman struggled with officers as they attempted to aid the children and officers subsequently arrested her at the scene. Both children were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The girl has been treated and released and is expected to make a full recovery, officials said, while the boy was transported to Children's Hospital in Detroit and reported in critical condition last week.
Prosecutors allege that Boles used the knife seen in the tub to cut the throats of both children.
Boles was arraigned in 22nd District Court and given a $100,000 bond. She remains in police custody, officials said.
Inkster Assistant Police Chief Bill Ratliff confirmed that police have a history with the defendant and that police have notified Children's Protective Services at least twice about the dangerous situation in the home. He said Boles is bipolar, schizophrenic and manic-depressant. Boles family members, Ratliff said, have been pleading with Children's Protective Services to take action since 2018.
“It just doesn't make sense to me why this happened,” Ratliff said. “It could have been prevented.” He said the failure of children's services to protect the children was frustrating for everyone in law enforcement. He confirmed that police have responded to the Grandview home 15 times and in 2018 temporarily removed the then 6-month-old girl from the dangerous scene. Police have also reportedly responded to other situations at the home including an incident when Boles was in the street threatening others with a saw and a call when she allegedly sliced her own head with razors and poured boiling water on her face.
Confidentiality laws prevent Children's Protective Services from commenting, according to an agency spokesman.
