A mom in Maryland has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly repeatedly stabbing her son. Selina Mui of Manchester reportedly attacked her son with a knife while he slept in his bed. The former substitute teacher had plans to kill herself before turning that attention on her teenager. But her son was eventually able to save both himself and his mother. Although he was wounded, he survived his injuries. Currently, no details have been given about the woman’s mental health or what led her to attempt a murder-suicide. Sadly, her decision could see her spending the next several decades of her life behind bars.
Deputies from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Mui’s house shortly after 6 a.m. on January 19, 2026, according to charging documents obtained by WBAL-TV. An assault had taken place between Mui and her 17-year-old son, resulting in injuries.
Initially, Mui planned to take her own life, she told deputies, but she changed her mind and attempted a murder-suicide instead.
After her husband left for work around 4:30 that morning, Mui wrote a note of apology to him. She then went to get a knife before going into her son’s room and stabbing him. The teen, whose name has not been released, told police he woke up to the pain of being stabbed in the back, WBAL-TV reported.
According to the documents, the altercation between Mui and her son lasted for 30 minutes.
The teen used a knife to defend himself from his mother’s attack, The Baltimore Sun reported. During the attack, Mui also reportedly tried to suffocate her son by stuffing a shirt in his mouth and covering his nose, documents read.
He was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center with four significant puncture wounds on his back, an injury around his neck, and cuts on both hands. Mui was flown to the same hospital. The teen is still at the trauma center but is expected to recover.
It was the son who was eventually able to defuse the situation with his mother, authorities said, per WBAL-TV. He told her that he loved her and they could talk. She then told him to call 911.
The 48-year-old mother was formerly employed as a substitute teacher with Carroll County Public Schools. School district representative Carey Gaddis told the Sun that Mui was hired on a daily as-needed basis in October 2016. Gaddis did not say when she stopped working for the school district.
Selina Mui has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, and first-degree assault. She is being held without bail after a hearing on January 20. Mui will next appear in court on February 18.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
