A Hyattsville woman pleaded guilty to attempted murder after attacking her ex-boyfriend's 8-year-old son with a dumbbell and trying to suffocate him with a pillow, prosecutors in Prince George's County said Friday.
Authorities said Helen Newsome entered the home of her ex-boyfriend and his 8-year-old son on Aug. 30, 2013, and hid in an upstairs bedroom until her former boyfriend left for work. After he left the house, prosecutors said, Newsome attacked the boy and tried to suffocate him, but he was able to pull the pillow away. She then began hitting him in the back and head with a dumbbell.
The boy was able to get away and run to a neighbor's house to call 911. He suffered lacerations to his head, which required staples, and bruises to his neck and shoulders.
"Ms. Newsome attempted to harm the child of her ex-boyfriend after [the boyfriend] ended their relationship, and a broken heart is absolutely no excuse to lash out on a child," said Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks in a statement.
Prosecutors said Newsome will serve a minimum of 30 years. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 17.
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