SACRAMENTO, Calif. —  Authorities in Sacramento, Calif., have charged a man with murdering his 2-year-old son with a screwdriver and trying to kill the boy's mother with an ax.

Charles A. Bailey did not enter a plea when he appeared in court Tuesday on charges including murder and attempted murder.

Prosecutors say the 50-year-old attacked Merrily Melson on Saturday in the home they shared at Shingle Springs, Calif. They allege he then kidnapped and killed the boy.

The 34-year-old Melson is recovering from wounds to the head and upper body. Her son's body was found in a wooded area.