Morrisville mother accused of cutting 4-year-old son's neck had history of mental problems, according to court documents

POLK COUNTY --  A stack of court documents dating back ten years show a woman with a history of mental troubles. That woman, Doinita Mitaru, is now in the Polk County Jail after she allegedly slit her four-year-old son's neck causing life threatening injuries.

Mitaru, according to the records, said she admitted she wanted to kill all nine of her children, but some of them woke up and started screaming. The kids range in age from 4 to 19.

The alleged incident took place early Tuesday morning in the family's rural Polk County home on Highway U.

Neighbor Juanita Tremain said she used to be friendly with the family.  "I'd take her kids to the library, kids to shopping, kids to thrift store."

Tremain said that friendship ended after she noticed some knick-knacks from her home missing. She believes Mitaru swiped the items.

 "All the kids come down here one day and I had to make them go home. They was just around my TV, I guess that's when she went throughout the house and got some stuff," explained Tremain.

Another neighbor saw erratic behavior for years. "She'll be out in her garden and she'll just be in her underwear and bra and wave at people like she's not doing anything crazy-- that ain't normal," said Tommy Presley.

Court records from 2002 indicate Mitaru's husband was granted guardianship over her because of mental problems.
    
In the documents, her husband said Mitaru was taking the children's beds outside, gathering clothes in a bag and burning them outside.
    
A mental health doctor said, "she needs someone to act in her own interests and to safeguard her children."
    
A year later, in 2003, a petition to terminate the guardianship was granted, and Mitaru's status said "she is OK now."

Tremain, though, said the mother of nine didn't seem OK. "She said the devil was after her."

In spite of that, Tremain said, she couldn't imagine Mitaru harming her own kids.

"Oh my gosh, isn't that terrible. I can't picture her doing anything to those children," exclaimed Tremain.