PHOENIX (AP) - Charges have been dropped against a man accused of kidnapping his baby son in a custodial dispute that led to the death of the child’s mother, authorities said Thursday.
A spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said 30-year-old Eric Maes is “medically incapacitated” after a suicide attempt in jail last Saturday.
Jennifer Liewer added that Maes remains hospitalized in serious condition and his family requested that prosecutors dismiss the charges “so that they would have the ability to make a medical decision on his behalf and to have access to him.”
Prosecutors made the request to dismiss the case Wednesday night without prejudice, meaning charges can refiled. It was approved by a county Superior Court judge.
Maes was arrested last week and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.
He allegedly kidnapped 10-month-old Abel Maes on Feb. 9 in Peoria and drove off in the van belonging to the child’s mother, Brittanie Martie.
According to arrest documents, Maes told police he intentionally struck Martie after she jumped out of the moving vehicle
The 30-year-old Martie died at a hospital.
The baby was found safe on the doorstep of a residence the next morning and Maes was arrested later that day in Phoenix.
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