Deltona, Florida — A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to poison his 77-year-old adoptive mother by lacing her milk with bleach. The teen reportedly confessed to authorities that he acted out of anger and no longer wanted to live with her.
The disturbing incident unfolded on Saturday morning at a home on South Brickell Drive in Deltona, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local media.
“He Put Clorox in the Milk”
Body camera footage released by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office shows deputies questioning the elderly victim outside her home. The footage, blurred to protect her identity, captures her calmly recalling the moment she realized something was wrong.
“Yes, the milk. He put the Clorox in the milk,” she told deputies. “I couldn’t drink the milk.”
She explained that she had poured the milk into a glass and noticed a strange chemical taste. Fortunately, she stopped drinking after just a small sip when she tasted the bleach.
Investigators said they later confirmed a strong bleach-like odor coming from the milk.
Suspect Found Hiding in Bedroom with Dog
The bodycam video then cuts to officers escorting the teen, in handcuffs, from the home. One deputy says the suspect had been “hiding in a bedroom with a dog” when they found him.
A search of the house revealed a bottle of Clorox bleach in the laundry room. The container was placed in a dusty area, but with a clear outline indicating it had been moved recently, according to the affidavit.
Teen Confesses to Attempted Poisoning
At the police station, the suspect reportedly admitted to the poisoning, telling deputies he was “angry” with his adoptive mother and no longer wanted to live at home.
The victim was taken to a hospital for evaluation and was later released in stable condition.
Family Conflict May Have Been a Factor
According to law enforcement and reporting by the Miami Herald, the victim had been in ongoing conflict with the teen. Her other son told investigators that she was the only one in the house who drank milk, suggesting she was clearly the intended target.
The teen now faces multiple felony charges, including:
Attempted first-degree murder
Poisoning food or water
Aggravated abuse of an elderly person
He remains in custody as the case unfolds.