MIAMI A Miami woman accused of drowning her 9-year-old autistic son in a canal pleaded not guilty to murder charges at a Friday hearing. Ripley faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse and filing a false police report. Prosecutors have filed a notice to seek a grand jury indictment for first-degree murder, but grand juries have been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Under Florida law, only someone who is indicted by a grand jury can receive the death penalty. The boys body was pulled out of a golf course canal the next morning as police continued to interrogate the woman.

“We love Alejandro and I don’t agree with whatever they’ve said about my wife,” a sobbing Aldo Ripley said Saturday. Patricia Ripley, left, faces murder charges in the death of her 9-year-old son, Alejandro. Police now allege that Ripley had pushed her son into another canal an hour before a second attempt. Her call to policeA call for help placed by Patricia Ripley Thursday night set off an Amber Alert and a desperate search. This morning, @MDPD_Director Ramirez joined @KathyFndzRundle to brief the community on the tragic murder of Alejandro Ripley & the arrest of his mother, Patricia Ripley.