UPDATE: Learning new heartbreaking details regarding the death of 9-year-old Alejandro Ripley.
The mother had been considering killing the autistic child for some time, according to a law enforcement source, saying Alejandro was physically becoming to hard to control @CBSMiami

The arrest report notes the mother said her son was in a better place now, but a source tells me the mother also told detectives that a family member - who is now dead - used to tell her, “God didn’t make Alejandro.” @CBSMiami

We now know, the mother allegedly tried to kill the boy twice. The first attempt was at a canal where the boy was heard screaming and a woman came out and “rescued” the boy. An hour later at a different canal, the mother made good on her plan and allegedly drowned the child.

Here is what I’ve been told by a source about the first attempt:
The mother took Alejandro to the canal, struggled with the child, and a neighbor heard screams and came out. The mother told the woman that everything was fine and that Alejandro just got excited and likes the water

The neighbor said the boy shouldn’t play in the canal because the water was filthy. She helped clean the boy up and the mother and child left.

The neighbor didn’t think anymore about it.

An hour later the mom went to another canal and drowned Alejandro. @CBSMiami

If this account is accurate, this will provide prosecutors with a strong case that this child’s death was not a momentary lapse in judgment but a concerted effort.

A preliminary review shows there were no calls or complaints about the family to either the police or DCF.

The mom has allegedly taken full responsibility. She said she made up the story about a pair of drug-crazed marauding black men to explain to her husband why Alejandro was gone.

Easily one of the most disturbing cases for Miami since the death of Rilya Wilson.
@CBSMiami