Son Held In Mom's Slaying

CROMWELL - A 53-year-old Cromwell woman is dead after allegedly being stabbed in her residence by her teenage son Thursday night.

Rene Smith, 53, of 11304 N. Enchanted Forest Lane, Cromwell, was pronounced dead by Kosciusko County Coroner John Sadler sometime after 11 p.m. Thursday at the scene of the stabbing.

Tyler Smith, 19, who lived with his mother and father, Ron Smith, at the Enchanted Forest Lane residence, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a preliminary charge of murder early this morning. He is being held without bond.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department received a call about a possible stabbing at the residence around 10:53 p.m. Thursday.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Rene Smith in a chair in the living room. She had been stabbed several times in the chest and upper-torso area with a 12-inch sword that was recovered at the scene.

Detectives interviewed Ron Smith, who allegedly said Rene and Tyler argued all evening. Ron Smith was sleeping and awoke to hear fighting in another room. As he walked into the living room, Ron Smith said he saw Tyler stabbing Rene.

Tyler Smith also was interviewed by police and said he and his mother were arguing all evening. Tyler Smith allegedly admitted to detectives that he stabbed his mother multiple times while she sat in a chair.

According to Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine, police have been called to the residence on several occasions, and there have been ongoing arguments at the home.

Drug paraphernalia and more than 30 knives reportedly were found inside the home shortly after the stabbing.

Tyler Smith allegedly told police his intent was to stab his mother then make the police shoot him at the scene. However, once police arrived, Tyler Smith surrendered peacefully.

The case remains under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office and the Kosciusko County Coroner's Office. The Syracuse Police Department and EMS and North Webster Police Department assisted at the scene of the crime.