Mom Decapitates Son While High on PCP

A Camden, New Jersey mother beheaded her 2-year-old child in August 2012 after smoking PCP. The 33-year-old woman later committed suicide once she realized what she had done.

Several Run-Ins With the Law

The woman, Chevonne Thomas, had several run-ins with the law over her drug use as well as parenting skills. In November 2010, she left her son, Zahree, unattended in a car while she got high. Police found Thomas and questioned her, at which time she told them she had smoked a marijuana joint laced in PCP.

State workers removed Zahree from her care and placed him with a relative. Nine months later, Thomas managed to complete mental health and substance abuse treatment, and her son was returned to her after the Department of Family & Children Services deemed her an unfit parent.

One month later Thomas tested positive for PCP and the state again removed Zahree from her care, placing him with the same relative for another nine-month period. Thomas again won custody back of her son after working with state officials on her substance abuse issues.

Shocking 911 Call

Four months later, the unthinkable occurred.

A transcript of the six-minute 911 call Thomas made on that tragic night:

Dispatcher: 911, what’s your emergency?

Thomas: Yes. Somebody just stabbed my baby. Please get here.

Dispatcher: They just did what?

Thomas: Stabbed my baby.

Dispatcher: Do you know who it was ma’am?

Thomas: Yes. It’s my ex… it’s my boyfriend. My current boyfriend.

Dispatcher: What’s your address?

Thomas: 1415 Kaighn. You know what?

Dispatcher: Do you need an ambulance ma’am?

Thomas: You know what? I did it. I’m lying. I’m lying…I did it.

Dispatcher: Do you need an ambulance ma’am?

Thomas: No. I mean, no, he doesn’t need…

Dispatcher: What’s your name?

Thomas: Chevonne Thomas…

Dispatcher: Alright, you said your baby was stabbed. Is this your son?

Thomas: Yes.

Dispatcher: How old is your son?

Thomas: My son is…2. He is 2.

Dispatcher: He was stabbed with what?

Thomas: A knife.

Dispatcher: Alright. Is he bleeding? Where is he bleeding? Is he bleeding from anywhere?

Thomas: No. I mean he is, but not much…

Dispatcher: Do you take medicine?

Thomas: I used to.

Dispatcher: What kind did you take?

Thomas: Prozac.

Dispatcher: Prozac. OK, you don’t take it anymore?

Thomas: Nope. Wait, wait, wait… I do.

Dispatcher: Do you still take it?

Thomas: I still take it.

Dispatcher: Did you take it today?

Thomas: I still take it… No, I didn’t take it today, but I should have. I should have. I should have taken it today.

Thomas rambled words during the 911 call, spoke in scrambled sentenced, and seemed like she was in her own world.

Police Found Zahree's Body

Police found Zahree’s body on the floor of the living room once they arrived at Thomas’s home. He had been decapitated, his head found stuffed inside the freezer. Police found Thomas deceased in her bedroom. She had sustained a self-inflicted stab wound to her neck.

Toxicology reports revealed that Thomas had been high on PCP when she decapitated Zaharee and stabbed herself.

Social Workers Cleared of Wrongdoing

State workers initially faced criticism in the case due to the numerous run-ins Thomas had before the murder. Workers were later cleared of any wrongdoing in the case.

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