According to Police Chief Gerald Galloway, Ronnel Dewand Kelly, 22, of Southern Pines faces charges of attempted murder and kidnapping growing out of an argument he had on July 2 with his mother, Gail Kelly.
She reported being assaulted, but no separate assault charges have been filed.
Capt. Carol McCarn said the dispute arose because Kelly wanted to have his mother tested to determine whether she was really his mother.
The argument occurred at the Kelly residence on South Bennett Street.
Kelly is accused of tying his mother up with socks and a bed sheet and putting her in a bathtub full of water. She told police that he punched her in the left eye and cut her arm with a sharp object.
Kelly departed the house, leaving his mother in the bathtub with the water level up to her chin, according to Galloway.
She escaped her bonds and ran to the police station. Officers observed lacerations and bruises on her face and arm, McCarn said.
They arrested Kelly and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and second-degree kidnapping.
The charge included the phrase “with intent to kill,” more simply known as attempted murder, because Kelly bound his mother, McCarn said.
If she had not been able to escape her bonds, she might have slipped under the water and drowned, McCarn said.
“The tying, that was the key to it,” she said.
Officers jailed Kelly under $25,000 secured bond. His first court hearing is July 17.
