MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis mother is behind bars accused of trying to flip one of her children over a second-floor balcony.
“She said ‘I’m going to kill you. I’m going to throw you off the balcony.’ His leg was off the ground. All she had to do was push him off,” recalled neighbor William Clayton.
Clayton and other neighbors say they witnessed Erica Hampton grab her 12-year-old son by the throat and toss him around outside apartments on Hunter Avenue.
The violence was so shocking; everyone just froze and couldn’t move to save the tortured child.
“She started slinging him on the ground. She slung him at my mama’s door,” said Clayton.
Neighbors told WREG the bleeding child screamed and cried during the attack.
“While he was saying ‘ma stop,’ she was beating him with her fist.
Clayton said the boy was too heavy for Hampton to throw from the second floor.
Instead, Clayton said she tried to fling him down a flight of stairs.
Thankfully, the child wiggled free from his coat and ran to safety.
Neighbors called police who showed up and took the mom to jail, Saturday.
Hampton is charged her with child abuse and neglect.
Court records show Hampton’s bond is only $250, so she only needs $25 to come home.
“To me that bond sucks. That ain’t nothing, $25 to get out of jail. That’s not going to do no good, once she gets out jail her kids will be the ones that suffer,” said Clayton.
Other witnesses who were too upset to talk on camera said Hampton’s three children have suffered before.
Neighbors hope the children get help, especially the child who told police the woman who gave birth to him, threatened to end his life.
“That will trouble a 12-year-old’s mind,” said Clayton.
The Department of Children’s Services took the children Saturday.
Hampton will appear before a judge Monday morning.
