A Texas woman accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old child at an apartment complex pool in suburban Dallas has been rearrested after her bond was increased to $1 million, according to court records. Elizabeth Wolf, 42, had initially been released on a $40,000 bond after being charged with attempted capital murder and injury to a child. The incident, which occurred on May 19, involved Wolf allegedly making racist remarks toward the child’s mother before trying to drown the child.
Police in Euless, a Dallas suburb, reported that Wolf was “very intoxicated” during the incident. The child’s mother informed officers that Wolf accused her of not being American and made other racial statements. Following a court hearing last week, Wolf’s bond was increased, leading to her rearrest. As of Wednesday, Wolf remained jailed in Fort Worth, according to Tarrant County records. Wolf’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed relief at Wolf’s rearrest. “CAIR-Texas remains committed to advocating for the family and the American Muslim community until justice, peace, and equity are achieved,” said Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin operations manager. The mother of the children, who wears a hijab, has stated that she and her family are Palestinians who became American citizens, according to CAIR. Neither police nor CAIR have released the mother’s name.
The child’s mother recounted to officers that after Wolf asked her where she was from, Wolf attempted to grab her 6-year-old son before seizing her 3-year-old daughter and forcing her underwater. The mother managed to pull her daughter, who was yelling for help and coughing up water, out of the pool. Both children were medically examined and cleared.
Euless police have requested that prosecutors in Tarrant County treat the case as a hate crime. A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office stated that they are reviewing the case. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime, according to Euless police Capt. Brenda Alvarado. The Tarrant County district attorney’s office has received the case for filing, and the matter remains under investigation.
Witnesses told police that a “very intoxicated” woman had tried to drown a child and argued with the child’s mother at the apartment complex pool on May 19. Officers approached Wolf as she attempted to leave and took her into custody on suspicion of public intoxication. The child’s mother told police that Wolf questioned where she was from and whether the two children playing at the pool were hers. The mother, who wore a hijab and modest swimwear, is Muslim and Palestinian, according to CAIR-Texas.
Wolf also made statements about the mother not being American and uttered other racist remarks, police said. “When the mother answered her, Wolf tried to grab her 6-year-old son, but he pulled away from her grasp, which caused a scratch on his finger. The mother began helping her son when Wolf grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and forced her underwater,” police stated in a news release. The mother managed to pull her daughter from the water, but the child had been yelling for help and was coughing up water.
In a release, CAIR-Texas welcomed the decision to rearrest Wolf. “The affected family and the American Muslim community are temporarily relieved to know the alleged perpetrator is in custody again. We thank local and federal law enforcement for the rearrest and the progress in the case investigation,” said Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Texas Operations Manager.
A court date for Wolf is set for October 17, according to a docket. The case continues to draw attention as it underscores the ongoing issues of hate crimes and racial discrimination in the United States. The community and advocacy groups like CAIR are closely monitoring the proceedings, hoping for a resolution that brings justice and peace to the affected family.
Source: ABC News, CNN
