A 42-year-old woman from Michigan, Jennifer Lynn Vargas, has been taken into custody on allegations of assaulting her daughter. The charges include biting her daughter on the neck, strangulation, and hurling her down a staircase. Vargas was arrested earlier this month and is facing charges of assault with intent to murder and first-degree child abuse, as per court documents. If found guilty, she could potentially face a life sentence for each charge.
The incident reportedly took place just before midnight on November 8, 2024, at Vargas’ home in Blair Township, a location approximately 160 miles northwest of Lansing. Michigan State Police were called to the scene, where they discovered Vargas and the victim, her daughter, in the driveway.
The identity and age of the victim have been withheld, but it has been confirmed that she is Vargas’ daughter. The victim reportedly told the authorities that Vargas had attacked her, hitting her multiple times, strangling her, and eventually throwing her down a flight of stairs.
The authorities observed visible injuries on the victim, including a bite mark and a cut on her hand. The victim claimed that the cut was the result of a struggle with Vargas over a knife. She also reported losing consciousness multiple times due to strangulation.
Emergency medical personnel transported the victim to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City for treatment, while Vargas was taken into custody. Court documents revealed further details about the alleged assault, stating that the victim claimed the physical assault lasted over an hour.
According to the victim, Vargas strangled her, slammed her head into the floor, and finally threw her down the stairs headfirst. After being thrown down the stairs, the victim pretended to be unconscious, and when Vargas was distracted, she ran to a nearby bedroom and locked the door.
The victim’s attempt to escape through a window was thwarted when Vargas reportedly broke through the locked door, pinned her down on the bed, and strangled her again. During this time, Vargas allegedly told the victim that she was going to be “sacrificed.”
Vargas is currently being held in the Grand Traverse County Jail with a bond set at $250,000. A judge has ordered her to have no contact with the victim and to maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from her. Vargas is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. on December 2.