MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – A Monroe County woman who faces charges of intent to murder after she allegedly tied up her 11-year-old son in a car and lit the car on fire was found competent to stand trial.
Sherri Marie Richter, 48, of Frenchtown Township, is accused of binding her son's wrists, locking him in a car and lighting it on fire.
Police received a call at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday from Richter's husband, who said his wife might have harmed their son.
Officials learned the family's 2014 Ford Focus was on fire at the Roselawn Memorial Park at 13200 S. Dixie Highway in LaSalle Township.
When deputies arrived, the car was emitting smoke from the passenger compartment, but Richter and her son couldn't be found.
Police found Richter and her son in a different part of the cemetery, talking to members of the Roselawn staff.
Richter freed boy after failing to ignite fire
Investigators said they learned Richter had bound her son at the wrists and locked him inside the Focus before lighting a fire in the trunk. She later tried to ignite the fire using gasoline inside the passenger compartment, where the boy was sitting, according to investigators.
Police said the fire didn't ignite, and the boy struggled to get free. The woman then freed the boy from the car and they walked away until they found an employee in the cemetery, police said.
The employee freed the boy from his bindings, and he is expected to be OK, officials said.
Richter evaluated
Richter was arrested and taken to ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital for evaluation before being lodged at the Monroe County Jail on attempted murder and arson charges.
Richter was charged with assault with intent to murder and arson -- preparation to burn between $1,000 and $20,000. She was arraigned and held at the Monroe Councty Jail on $100,000 bail.
A forensic review was held Thursday, and Richter was found to be competent to stand trial.
The 11-year-old boy was taken to ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital for precautionary reasons and released.
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