[bloodrayne]

9 Year-Old Charged With Poisoning Family

Stepmother Remains In Intensive Care

Irvington, Alabama -- A 9 year-old boy was placed in juvenile detention after he was charged with four counts of third-degree assault for allegedly poisoning his 30 year-old stepmother and his three siblings in separate incidents.

Mobile County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kate Johnson said the youngster admitted pouring an aquarium water conditioner in his step mom's drink on Saturday at a residence in Irvington. The unnamed woman fell ill and remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit at a Mobile hospital. She was treated for abdominal pains and is expected to make a full recovery.

Johnson said investigators also are looking into an April 15 incident in which the boy confessed to poisoning his siblings with an industrial strength cleaner and degreaser. The three siblings, a 15 year-old and two 11 year-olds, were treated and released.

Investigators described the youngster as a "troubled child" in need of professional counseling.