BRICK, NJ – A young woman is facing attempted murder and other charges after allegedly stabbing her 2-year-old brother in the chest while babysitting him last weekend, authorities said.
Police were called to a Burke Lane residence in Brick Township around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, where they found a toddler suffering from a stab wound. According to investigators, the child was alert and conscious when first responders arrived. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Hospital in Neptune, where he received treatment for injuries that included a punctured lung and damage to the wall of his heart. As of Wednesday, he remained hospitalized in stable condition.
Court documents indicate the stabbing took place while the siblings’ parents were away grocery shopping. The alarm was raised after the children’s other sister heard her younger brother’s cries and discovered what had happened.
The suspect, Marlene Rodriguez, allegedly told police that voices she believed belonged to a family she knows pressured her into carrying out the attack. She further admitted to officers that she understood her actions were wrong. Investigators noted Rodriguez later claimed to hear another voice instructing her to stop answering police questions if she wanted to avoid jail.
Authorities say Rodriguez’s history includes mental illness and substance abuse struggles. Prior to the stabbing, a relative reported Rodriguez inquired whether she had ever “sacrificed anyone,” an unsettling question that went unanswered when posed back to Rodriguez herself.
Online jail records confirm Rodriguez is being held without bail at Ocean County Jail. She is charged with attempted murder, child endangerment, and two counts of weapons offenses related to the attack.
Officials have not released the names of the children or their parents. Social services have been notified as the investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Neighbors expressed shock upon learning of the stabbing, describing the family as quiet and private. Police have reassured the community that there is no ongoing threat.
Authorities continue to investigate possible motives and whether Rodriguez had access to mental health support in the lead-up to the incident.