Julissa Thaler, Eli Hart.Photo: Hennepin County Jail; GoFundMe
The Minnesota motheraccused of fatally shooting her 6-year-old sonallegedly visited a firing range prior to the killing, so that she could to learn how to use her new gun.
PEOPLE confirms that Julissa Angelica Genrich Thaler, 28, has been charged with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of kindergartener Eli Hart.
The friend told police Thaler had purchased a shotgun in mid-March, the complaint alleges, according to the reports.
The two had visited a gun range over two days, so she could learn how to use the weapon, the complaint alleges.
Police allege Thaler would conceal the weapon in a gray blanket whenever she left her apartment with it.
A gray blanket was recovered from the trunk of Thaler’s car, where Eli’s body was also discovered.
At the time of the stop, police noticed blood and a spent shotgun shell inside the vehicle, as well as blood on Thaler’s hand — yet they released her after impounding the car.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed Eli’s body along with the shotgun that authorities say killed him. Police went to Thaler’s apartment and spotted her leaving the area on foot.
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Police said another unidentified individual — a 27-year-old man — was arrested at the same time, but that he will not face formal charges. Local media reports state that man was the friend who accompanied Thaler to the gun range for practice.
Custody Battle for Boy
Thaler and Eli’s father werefighting for custodyof him.
The boy, who wanted to be a firefighter, was previously in the custody of social services, after Dakota County filed a Child in Need of Protection or Service petition on his behalf back in January 2021.
Eli spent 457 days between county custody and family foster care.
According to aGoFundMe campaignorganized to help pay for Eli’s funeral, the boy spent 11 months living with extended family members, but in December 2021, a judge allowed Eli to return to his mother’s care for a home trial.
“Due to many red flags Eli’s mother was showing, Tory tried extremely hard to get custody of Eli,” the fundraiser’s description alleged. “Numerous parties made many statements to CPS, fearing that mom would harm Eli if full custody were returned. Sadly, full custody was returned on May 10, 2022.”
A judge set Thaler’s bail at $2 million.
It wasn’t immediately clear if she had retained an attorney or entered a plea.
source: people.com
