Woman Tried to Kill Self, Son, D.A. Says

A 19-year-old Vietnamese woman who allegedly fed her 18-month-old son at least 10 Tylenol capsules in a botched murder-suicide was charged Friday with attempted murder and child endangering, authorities said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Linda B. Greenberg said the woman, Bau Thi Nguyen of Reseda, would be allowed to remain free on $3,000 bail pending a Thursday arraignment on the two felony charges.

Los Angeles Police Lt. Bill Gaida said Nguyen told investigators that she was despondent after a quarrel with her husband and had planned to kill both the child, Michael Dinh Nguyen, and herself.

Nguyen used an eyedropper to feed the child 10 Tylenol capsules mixed with orange juice on March 14 but changed her mind about committing suicide and instead telephoned paramedics, Gaida said.

Michael was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center and later transferred to County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Authorities said the child, who had been fitted with a colostomy bag because of an intestinal problem, has since recovered from the incident but remains in the custody of the state Department of Children and Family Services.

“The dosage could have been fatal,” Greenberg said. “The child would have died without immediate treatment. That much Tylenol could have caused irreparable liver damage.”