Seattle mother charged with killing 4-year-old son pleads not guilty

Warning: This article contains descriptions of child abuse that may be disturbing to some readers.

A North Seattle mother accused of killing her 4-year-old son pleaded not guilty Thursday to first-degree murder.

Joelene Rodriguez, 45, was arraigned in King County Superior Court.

Her defense asked the judge to restrict video and photography by the media, but the request was denied.

Her trial is scheduled for late February.

Her bail is set at $5 million.

Father’s 911 call leads to devastating scene

Last month, prosecutors detailed a disturbing sequence of events that unfolded at the Cedar Crossing Apartments on October 16. 

According to police, the child’s father called 911 to report that Rodriguez was attempting to harm herself. Moments later, he could be heard screaming that she had killed their son. Neighbors reported hearing him in distress, shouting repeatedly, “She killed him! She killed him!”

When officers arrived, Rodriguez answered the door while on the phone with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Officers noted dried blood on her wrists before taking her into custody. Inside the apartment, they discovered the young boy unresponsive in the tub. 

He had suffered multiple injuries, including a visible stab wound to his chest. Court documents reveal that the King County Medical Examiner found several injuries on the child’s body, including three stab wounds to the chest and a slashed Achilles tendon. The tendon injury appeared to have been inflicted by “sawing,” rendering the child immobile. One stab wound pierced the lung and entered the chest cavity but did not strike major arteries.

Medical experts concluded the boy did not die immediately and may have lived for up to an hour after the injuries, during which time Rodriguez did not seek help.

Rodriguez claims she was told to ‘sacrifice’ son

Rodriguez, who was the child’s primary guardian, reportedly told police, “They made me do it. He’s gone.” She allegedly claimed she believed she needed to “sacrifice” her non-verbal autistic son to protect her family. She also said she added water to the tub to make it “comforting” for him.

Prosecutors described the killing as “torturous,” emphasizing that the injuries were inflicted in a way that caused prolonged suffering. Rodriguez has prior convictions for DUI and driving with a suspended license. 

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

This story was originally published on October 17, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then.