MEYERS, Calif. — A 24-year-old South Lake Tahoe man is in custody without bail after authorities say he attacked his mother Sunday night at a residence on Panorama Drive, leaving her hospitalized in critical condition.
According to El Dorado County jail records, Bodin Jeffrey Schwartz, booking No. 135508, was arrested Feb. 22 at 8:22 p.m. by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held on suspicion of felony burglary under California Penal Code 459 and attempted murder under Penal Code 664/187(a). Bail was set at $0.
The victim was transported to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, where she remained in intensive care, according to statements released by family members.
In public posts shared after the arrest, the suspect’s father described a history of severe mental illness, including diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He said his son had previously been incarcerated and later completed a two-year probation program that required compliance with psychiatric treatment and medication.
“Sadly, at some point in the last month or two he had decided that he no longer needed to stay on his psych meds,” the father wrote. “Helen was scared to death and pleading with the sheriffs to take him in on a 5150 but they still wouldn’t.”
The suspect’s stepmother alleged that multiple calls were made to law enforcement and crisis services in the week prior to the attack. She claimed the family sought a 72-hour psychiatric hold but were told the man did not meet the criteria because he appeared calm when deputies or medical staff arrived.
When Does a 5150 Apply?
Under California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150, law enforcement officers and designated clinicians may place an individual on a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold if there is probable cause to believe the person, “as a result of a mental health disorder,” is a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or gravely disabled.
The legal standard requires observable behavior or credible evidence of imminent risk at the time of evaluation. Prior history alone — including past violence or diagnoses — is generally insufficient without current indicators of danger.
Mental health professionals have long noted that individuals in acute psychosis may temporarily mask symptoms during brief interactions with authorities, complicating detention decisions. Civil liberties protections also require that involuntary holds meet constitutional due process thresholds.
It remains unclear what specific information deputies or hospital personnel had during their contacts with the suspect in the days before the attack. The Sheriff’s Office has not released a public statement addressing whether a 5150 detention was considered or declined under statutory standards.
Did the “Safety Net” Fail?
Family members argue the system broke down at multiple points: emergency room evaluation, crisis hotline intervention and law enforcement response.
“This horrible thing could have been avoided,” the suspect’s stepmother wrote. “She was scared for her life and they said maybe try and video him so you have more proof.”
California’s mental health framework relies on short-term crisis holds, voluntary treatment compliance and community-based follow-up. Once probation conditions expire, continued treatment generally depends on voluntary participation unless a new qualifying crisis arises. Assisted outpatient treatment, sometimes referred to as Laura’s Law, may apply in some counties but requires court involvement and documented criteria.
Legal analysts note that proving systemic failure depends on whether authorities had sufficient evidence of imminent danger at the time they were contacted. Without clear threats, physical acts, or demonstrated inability to care for oneself, officers may lack statutory grounds for detention.
The case underscores the tension between civil rights protections and preventive intervention in severe mental illness cases — particularly when medication compliance lapses.
Schwartz remains in custody pending further court proceedings. No court date was immediately available in jail records as of Thursday.
Authorities have not released additional details about the investigation.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
Suspect’s Father’s Statement:
Hi everyone… I made a post last night, asking for prayers for a wonderful brave caring mom who is in ICU in Reno currently. Because I was doing my best to not mention names. Many of you misunderstood who I was hoping for prayers for.
I’m now going to air this out. The News about what happened has already hit some media outlets in Placerville and elsewhere around Eldorado County.
I am asking for prayers for a miracle for my ex-wife and the mother of my two sons. Her name is Helen. She is an amazing person. Though our marriage failed.
(100% my fault. I failed her.😞)
I still have tons of love, and have the utmost respect for her.
Helen blessed me with two wonderful, intelligent, beautiful sons.My oldest son, now 24. At some point in his late teens, early 20s became very erratic, increasingly angry, paranoid, and unstable. He started to hear voices in his head.
At some point he turned that anger towards me. It was like a switch had flipped. One day we were hanging out , doing things together. I was trying to teach him guitar. Etc.He ended up putting a restraining order against me… I lost contact with him completely for almost two full years. I was super depressed about it.
After that happened between my son and I. I was out of the loop and not allowed to contact him or have any interaction that might get me in trouble.He eventually became paranoid about the roommates he was living with in Carson City at the time. So he moved back home with his mom in Tahoe. After a period of time had another psychotic break and his erratic behavior turned towards his mom, his best friends, and everyone around him. (Everyone who knew and loved him.)
He ended up getting in trouble with the law. He was eventually diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and Bi-Polar disorder 3 or 4 years ago. Basically during and after Covid.He spend almost a year in jail last time and was released on a deferment program of two years probation. As long as he continued to see his mental health counselor, stayed on his psych meds and off of alcohol and any other drugs. If he stayed clean and followed the course, the charges against him would be dropped
He passed the two year probation with flying colors and really had turned his life around.
He and I had repaired our relationship, and I thought I finally had my awesome son back.
Sadly, at some point in the last month or two he had decided that he no longer needed to stay on his psych meds… We were all worried sick, but hoping for the best.
This ended up leading another psychotic break that we’re thinking started a little over a week ago. Right as this last massive storm hit Tahoe. Worst timing possible!
He became increasingly erratic and paranoid that everyone was out to get him.
Helen and I had been in constant communication. She had called mental health and the sheriffs over to her house where he was living with her in Tahoe multiple times. She even managed to take him into the ER trying to get him help and possibly admitted on a 72 hr 5150 hold.
They wouldn’t take him in because he is really good at calming down in front of them and would show no signs of violence or wanting to harm himself.Helen was scared to death and pleading with the sheriffs to take him in on a 5150 but they still wouldn’t.
(Our laws regarding mental illness are so screwed up!!!)
I was increasingly afraid for her safety. Helen kept reassuring me that he had never become violent towards her.
Long story short. My oldest son viciously attacked her Sunday night and now he’s in jail for attempted murder. Helen is in ICU at Renown Hospital in Reno fighting for her life.
We’re praying for a miracle for her… 🙏🙏🙏If you can please pray for Helen, our family, his younger brother, and for everyone who loves her. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Please pray for him as well. He truly is a great kid whose brain is short circuiting. Now he’s destroyed his life and the lives of all us around him who just wanted to get him the help he needed. I pleaded with him to get back on his medication when this latest episode began!!!
Having lived with this horrible mental disease that he has for many years now. I cannot even begin to explain how difficult this is to know that my bright eyed, extremely intelligent, handsome son could become this messed up!
Or how he could do this thing to his mom who loved him???I’m crying as I type this. Sorry.
Step-Mother’s statement:
This is my stepson and WE WILL BE PURSUING A LAWSUIT! THIS HORRIBLE THING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED! He had been in a complete psychotic state for a week leading up to this. He had already attacked his father 4 years ago. Another time she had reached out to the sheriff multiple times scared for his or someone else’s. He did turn himself in went to jail. Once his probation period was up about 6 months ago he was no longer required to do anything. He didn’t like the meds and decided to go off of them. During the 7 days prior to the attack, she had taken him to the ER and told them he was off his meds and acting erratic. They did nothing. The next day she called the crisis hotline…nothing. The next day called the sheriff and the crisis hotline; he’s very good at acting calm when they talked to him, so they said sorry we can’t do anything. She was scared for her life and they said maybe try and video him so you have more proof…..and just call us again if something happens!!! What in the actual fuck??? I’m sorry, but seriously!! So the next day he drives to my husband and my house in the middle of the night and tried to break into our house. I had been terrified for our safety and thankfully locked everything very well. When my husband found him outside he wanted to come in and we refused to let him in our house. He went back home to his moms house and beat her to death. So many lives are ruined in our family and this could have been prevented. We are devastated and never want this to happen to anyone else that may be having these problems. When the sheriff said try and video or something so there was more proof…..why wasn’t the fact that he had attacked his father already once, or had the sheriff called 2 different reporting a 5150 by a neighbor and his mother before, or that he was in jail and was being treated for paranoid schizophrenia enough evidence to at least take him for a 72 hour hold for evaluation. WHY???.
