North Carolina Woman Allegedly Attempted to Murder, Castrate Her Stepson, Sheriff Says

A North Carolina woman is accused of allegedly attempting to castrate and kill her stepson, who was treated for severe burns to his body, authorities said.

On Sept. 30, Bracey Byrd was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder, felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, malicious castration, first-degree kidnapping, and three counts of felony child abuse with physical injury, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office said, WITN reported.

A day earlier, the Wilson County Department of Social Services contacted the sheriff’s office about a possible child abuse case involving a boy that was reported by medical staff at the Wilson Medical Center Emergency Department.

According to deputies, staff at the hospital admitted for treatment a child suffering from third-degree burns that did not appear to be self-inflicted.

The boy also had other injuries — some of which appeared not to be new — that included bruising to his face, head, arms, back, legs and genital area, deputies said.

Police declined to disclose further details related to the case, according to WITN.

Byrd was being held in lieu of $2 million bond.