MIAMI, Fla. – The mother accused of first-degree murder in the drowning death of her 9-year-old son will be facing the death penalty.
A Miami-Dade grand jury indicted Patricia Ripley of West Kendall this week and prosecutors said the death penalty will be on the table.
The 45-year old mother is accused of killing her autistic son, Alejandro, last May.
Surveillance video captured Ripley pushing her son into a canal behind the Kendall Acres Condominiums at 103rd Avenue and Kendall Drive around 7:30 p.m. on May 21.
Detectives said Ripley admitted to driving to the second location about 8:30 p.m. and pushing Alejandro into the pond-like canal where he drowned.