17-year-old charged as adult for stabbing mom while she slept

GILLETTE (WNE) — A Campbell County teen made his initial appearance in court Wednesday for attempted first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing his mother in the back while she slept in bed.

Tharles O. Smith, 17, remains held in the Campbell County Detention Center on $250,000 cash-only bond, and is next due in court for his preliminary hearing June 21.

Prosecutors are trying the teen as an adult and have upped the charge from attempted second-degree murder, for which he was originally arrested early Tuesday morning.

Smith is accused of stabbing his mother in the back with an 8-inch kitchen knife while she slept. Her left shoulder blade was fractured and her left lung damaged.

An emergency doctor told investigators that she was “very lucky” to have survived, according to court documents.

Deputies responded to the residence west of Gillette at about 11:45 p.m. Monday after the woman reported her son had stabbed her. Smith met deputies outside of the home to direct them to where his mother was.

Deputies found the woman lying in bed with the kitchen knife, 13.5 inches long with an 8-inch blade, still sticking out of her back. She was airlifted to Campbell County Memorial Hospital for treatment and deputies found and detained Smith at the home.

Smith told investigators he and his family had an ongoing dispute about his having to move out of their home. Later on, Smith could not sleep because he was “too angry” and felt his parents “were trying to get rid of him,” according to court documents.

Smith could not explain to investigators why he stabbed his mother and said that he had been “troubled” and often angry since he was young.

Attempted first-degree murder carries a life sentence.

This story was published on June 14, 2024.