P.G. woman charged with attempted murder of 8-year-old boy

A Landover woman has been arrested in connection with an attack on an 8-year-old boy, Prince George’s County police said Tuesday.

Helen Marie Newsome, 26, was arrested Aug. 31 after she broke into the home of her ex-boyfriend in the 6700 block of Munsey Street in Landover and attempted to smother and beat his son with a dumbbell while he slept.

The boy escaped and ran away to a neighbor’s house, police said. He was taken to the hospital with head injuries but was later released.

Ms. Newsome told police she was involved in the assault, which included grabbing a pillow to put over the boy’s face and “striking him in the head” with a 5-pound weight.

Ms. Newsome, of the 7200 block of East Inwood Street, admitted she had been in a romantic relationship with the boy’s father in the past. She was charged with first-degree attempted murder.