Crawford county community members shared their thoughts after learning that 62 year-old Mary Diehl is behind bars after allegedly poisoning her adoptive son, Najir Diehl.
Many residents tell Erie News Now they heard the chilling news for the first time on Wednesday. Even though it's a small community residents were stunned something like this could happen so close to home.
It's about nine miles and takes roughly sixteen minutes to get from downtown Meadville to Mallard road, the place where the 11 year-old died after State Police said he was poisoned by his adoptive mother.
Crawford county residents were stunned to hear the news.
Erica Simpson, a resident from Espyville said, "It's shocking for one and it's a tragedy for another reason, cause that's just an innocent soul that didn't have an expectations of what was going to happen in his future and for it to be cut short by something so senseless is tragic, it's very very sad."
Some residents just learned about this young boy's passing on Wednesday.
Bev Sieg, a Crawford County resident said, "My prayers go out to him. I'm very sad and I'm very sorry that that happened to him and you can't replace a life."
Residents shared that Crawford county, especially Cochranton, is a fairly quite area and the fact that something like this happened so close to home is quite startling.
"There's been a few things that have shook our community in the past, but when you find out it's a young boy or just anybody in general, it's not good", explained Simpson.
After the initial shock wore off, resident's thoughts went to Najir Diehl's grieving family and friends.
"Don't ever be afraid to talk to someone if you are struggling with grief, I'm sure there's lots of places that can help with that. I would say if anybody was struggling with anything to reach out for help in consoling themselves and others", said Simpson.
Mary Diehl is currently in the Crawford county jail. No preliminary hearing date has been set.