A Florida teenager, apparently frustrated with his living situation, evidently attempted to make a big change. On April 19, 2025, a 77-year-old woman poured herself a glass of milk, and as soon as she took a drink, she knew something was wrong. Her 17-year-old adopted son had allegedly spiked the woman’s drink with bleach, hoping it would harm her. Thankfully, she did not get sick, but the teen is facing attempted murder charges.
The woman’s other son called police for help. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office shared the 911 call with WESH. He reportedly told the dispatcher, “We have a 17-year-old here who put Clorox in our milk, attempting to poison our mother, and I don’t know what to do.”
A short time later, deputies went to the family’s home in Deltona and spoke with the victim. The interaction was captured on body camera footage. The unidentified woman said the teenager tainted the milk. The deputy asked the woman how much bleach she potentially ingested. She responded, “I think I had a little bit, and I tasted it.”
According to court documents obtained by the Miami Herald, the deputies noted the milk smelled strongly of bleach. Investigators linked the bleach to the laundry room.
“The bottle was positioned in a dusty area with a clear outline indicating it had been moved recently,” deputies explained in the affidavit.
Police spoke with the teen about what happened. “He stated he was angry at (his adoptive mom) and no longer wished to live in the home,” deputies wrote.
The teenager reportedly told investigators he knew bleach could hurt his mother and intended for her to become ill. The mother did not experience immediate adverse effects but requested a medical evaluation, the Herald reported.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood made headlines in September 2024 for his controversial take on minors committing crimes. Chitwood warned minors about what could happen, insisting he wants change.
“You think it’s a joke, you’re going to find your a– in handcuffs, and you’re going to find your a– being paraded in front of the news media behind me, and your parents are going to be filmed as they come and pick you up. Parents, get your kids in line. Or, your checkbook’s gonna hurt and your pride’s gonna hurt. I promise,” he said in a news conference following an 11-year-old’s arrest.
In the most recent case, deputies arrested the teenage suspect. He faces charges of felony poisoning food or water, attempted murder, and aggravated elderly abuse, the Herald reported. It’s unclear whether the 17-year-old will face charges as an adult or as a minor.
