Louisville Mom Shot 10-Year-Old Son Dead, Tried To Cut Out His Tongue, Police Say

A woman in Louisville, KY., has been arrested and charged with murder after the body of her 10-year-old son was found in the trunk of her car.

The accused, 28-year-old Kaitlyn R Higgins, has reportedly told police that she shot her son. Higgins also admitted to trying to cut out his tongue before pulling the trigger, the Courier-Journal reported.

Louisville Metro Police said they were called to Higgins' residence Tuesday night after someone spotted the woman carrying a gun with a dead body wrapped in a blanket. The officers found blood on the front steps of the porch. They opened the trunk of her car and discovered the boy's body with a gunshot wound, according to an arrest citation.

The officers did not say why Higgins killed her son.

The accused was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with murder (domestic violence), as well as tampering with physical evidence.

Neighbors said they heard a gunshot Tuesday night but did not even imagine such an incident would happen. "I felt like I wish I could've saved the child," said Tayler Alexandra to CBS-affiliated station WLKY. "I know I heard those shots, was there something I could've done?"

Alexandra said she was "suspicious" of the people living in the house. She claimed her mother had made calls to Metro Animal Services about an incident involving a neglected dog. Records showed Higgins had received citations for dog neglect. However, she had no criminal history, the television station reported.

Mya Lancaster, a woman who used to babysit the boy, suspects the mother had abused the child too. "He had came once to the house with a black eye," said Lancaster. "Then he came to the house once again with scratches on his face and neck."

She added that she didn't inform the child protection services because Higgins had a weapon and she was scared of her.

"I'm hurt, I'm saddened, I just saw them Sunday," said Lancaster. "I didn't step up, I didn't do the right thing, I didn't listen, I should've said something," she said.

Lancaster said the boy, whose identity was not revealed, was a "sweet kid" who loved anime, YouTube videos and playing video games.

Higgins also has a 2-year-old child, who is in the care of relatives.