Spokane Valley woman accused of assaulting autistic son

A Spokane Valley woman faces a first-degree assault charge after allegedly telling a dispatcher she cut her autistic son’s throat with a knife because she was “desperate for help.” According to court documents, the 58-year-old woman called 911 around 11:20 p.m. on Feb. 12 and said she cut her 17-year-old son because she wanted to get someone to come out to her house for help. Deputies responded and found the woman unconscious on the floor but were unsure what she may have taken to cause that, according to court document. Her son’s injuries were not life-threatening, but he was unable to give a statement due to his “severe” autism, court documents said. A bloody knife with a six inch serrated blade was found in the kitchen. The woman was transported to Valley Hospital for treatment. Her bond was set at $5,000 during a brief court appearance Tuesday. Attorneys said that the woman has mental health issues. She has no criminal history. Nationally, about 66 percent of people with autism reported being abused in a 2012 survey of more than 7,000 individuals with disabilities by the Disability and Abuse Project.