Maryland mother allegedly stabbed son to death during altercation in their home

LANHAM, Md. (TCD) — A 42-year-old mother stands accused of fatally stabbing her 21-year-old son during a dispute in which he allegedly tried to strangle her.

On Jan. 25 shortly after 7 a.m., officers with the Prince George’s County Police Department responded to the 8000 block of Greenfield Drive, where they found Cristos Johnson suffering from stab wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police allege Johnson and his mother, Querida Rivera, got into an altercation. According to court documents reviewed by WRC-TV, the dispute reportedly lasted for several hours, and Rivera told police her son became aggressive and shoved her. Rivera allegedly grabbed a knife from upstairs, returned downstairs, and threatened to harm Johnson with the weapon. Rivera reportedly told police her son attempted to strangle her, so she stabbed him.

However, according to court documents obtained by WRC, a witness reported that they did not see Johnson touch his mother before she retrieved the knife. The witness allegedly saw Rivera strike her son and then stab him.

WRC reports that Rivera sustained bruises on her body and a cut on her arm following the fatal attack.

According to police, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Rivera with first-degree murder and other related charges. Officers arrested her on Feb. 7, and she was booked into the Department of Corrections.

Rivera appeared in court for a hearing on Thursday, Feb. 8, and a judge denied her bond, WRC reports. Rivera’s mother reportedly testified that her daughter was a good mother and that Johnson had been aggressive toward Rivera in the past.

One of Johnson’s friends, however, said, “He never would’ve put his hands on his mom. Like, that’s something he was big on.”

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