NC Mom Ruled Incompetent To Stand Trial In 3-Year-Old Son's Bel Air Death: Report

BEL AIR, MD — A North Carolina mom believed to have killed her 3-year-old son in Bel Air has been ruled incompetent to stand trial.

WSOC confirmed with court clerks in Maryland that Gloria Elena Hughes, 37, is being evaluated by the Maryland Department of Health now. Police have described Jason Garcia's death as "pure evil."

“It’s just heartbreaking," Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore said, according to WBAL-TV. "If there’s evil — that’s pure evil. That’s pure evil, when you see something like that, and it hurts all of us.”

A man reported seeing Hughes crying with Jason in her vehicle on Gateway Drive in Bel Air on Dec. 2. When the person checked on her, she "brushed the person off" and drove away, charging documents revealed. Later that night, Hughes took Jason to the emergency room at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center after he ingested a boric acid suppository, court documents revealed. Video surveillance showed the child and mom leaving the hospital Sunday at 12:15 a.m., Patch reported.

But five hours later, surveillance cameras at Self Storage Plus in Bel Air reveal images of Hughes struggling with her son and slamming his head against the asphalt ground several times, then grabbing his legs and body slamming him again, WMAR reported.

On Dec. 3 around 5:25 a.m., an off-duty Harford County sheriff's deputy was driving past 404 North Main Street in Bel Air when he saw Hughes in the road holding her son, 3-year-old Jason Garcia. The deputy called for assistance and Bel Air police officers arrived within minutes, according to the police department, Patch reported.

Emergency responders began life-saving measures on the child, who also was from from Morganton, North Carolina. The child was taken to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center by Harford County EMS and pronounced dead about 6 a.m., police reported. Medical staff said the child suffered some abrasions on his face and a large skull fracture that ultimately led to his death.

During Hughes’ bail review, the prosecutor described the facts of the case as "horrific, heinous, barbaric and unfathomable." Hughes appeared to be disoriented when in court and couldn’t tell the judge what day it was or why she was there, reported WBTV. The judge denied bail and ordered a competency evaluation.

Court documents obtained by WMAR said Hughes had run away from her hometown of Morganton, North Carolina, with her son while embroiled in a child custody battle. The boy's father had contacted local police Dec. 3, warning them she might be taking the child to Maryland.

Last week, Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with Alex Garcia about the death of his and Hughes’ 3-year old son. Garcia said two days before, he had called 911 in Morganton about a dispute with his girlfriend, Gloria Hughes. At the time, he said Hughes had taken his cellphone and barricaded herself in an upstairs bedroom with Jason.

Seven public safety officers responded to the couple’s home, but police said there was no indication the child was in any danger. Garcia said he called 911 a second time after coming home from work and finding Hughes and the 3-year-old gone. Channel 9 obtained a recording of that call.

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