FedEx driver turned hero recalls attack on 4-year-old boy in NW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The image of little Ayden Duarte being rushed into a LifeFlight helicopter, fighting for his life, is seared into the mind of Netha Preston.

"I hope I saved his life, because I normally don't hit that street first," said the Federal Express driver. "I hit the other street and come around."

But for some reason Thursday, Preston turned onto James River Lane first. What she saw, was gut wrenching. Preston says she saw Jenea Mungia beating and stabbing a little boy, who was helplessly on the ground. She immediately tried to stop her.

"She took his head and just slammed it on the cement, and I said, 'Lady, what are you doing what are you doing?' And she said 'Shoot me B!' That's all she kept telling me, 'Shoot me!'"

Preston called 911, and soon law enforcement came. What they found was little Ayden Duarte with trauma, stab wounds and mutilated private parts. The news sent shockwaves through the community.

"I got two of my own, could never hurt a hair on either one of their heads. I love them to death," said Kimberly Myers, who dropped off a stuffed animal at the home of Mungia.

Sam Bright, who lives down the street, grew up with Mungia. He remembers her as a normal kid.

"She would sit in the back of the bus, just seemed like a pretty normal girl really," said Bright.

Mungia is separated from Ayden's father. She recently moved back to Houston and in with her parents. To outsiders, things seemed normal, until Thursday afternoon.

Preston just hopes she acted soon enough.

"When they arrested her she was naked from the top up and they picked her up and she turned around and looked at (Ayden) and said: 'Die,' and got in the truck."

Sam Bright grew up with Mungia and remembers her as a normal kid.

He said, "She would sit in the back of the bus, just seemed like a pretty normal girl really."

Mungia is separated from Ayden's father and lives with her parents.

Preston, though, will remember the moment Mungia was arrested.

"When they arrested her she was naked from the top up and they picked her up and she turned around and looked at him and said die, and got in the truck," Preston recalled.