Local News in Brief : Fountain Valley : Woman Critically Hurt in Stabbing; Son Held

A Fountain Valley woman who police said was stabbed repeatedly by her son was in critical condition after surgery at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital but is expected to survive, a hospital spokeswoman said Sunday.

Martha Nelson, 38, was stabbed in the face, neck and back Saturday morning, Police Sgt. Ron Manda said.

At 11:10 a.m. Saturday, a man at the Nelson household in the 17000 block of Santa Rosalia Street dialed 911 and said, “I stabbed my mother.”

Police went to the house and were met at the front door by John Nelson, 18. They found his mother lying on her bedroom floor, Manda said.

The son, a student at Fountain Valley High School, was arrested and booked at Orange County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, police said.

Nelson’s post-surgery condition improved slightly Sunday, nursing supervisor Mary Johnson said.

Police Sgt. Pat Zehner said Nelson and her son had an argument that led to the stabbing, but he did not know what the argument was about.

Nelson’s husband, Peter J. Nelson, was at work when the attack occurred, police said.