April 14, 2011 5:22 PM

Newburgh suicide mother's family speaks about Hudson River tragedy

By
Camille Mann
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Daily Blotter

Newburgh suicide mother's family speaks about Hudson River tragedy

Lashandra Armstrong

(Credit: Personal Photo)

(CBS/WCBS) NEW YORK - Relatives of Lashandra Armstrong, the woman who police say killed herself and three of her children by driving into the Hudson River Tuesday night, are now speaking out about the tragedy.

Pictures: Mom drives into river, kills 3 kids, 1 escapes

"I'm still hurting. I will be forever hurting for the rest of my life," Armstrong's mother, Datrice, told CBS station WCBS.

Police said Armstrong put her four children into the family minivan Tuesday night and intentionally drove it into the Hudson River. She drowned along with her daughter and two sons - her eldest son 10-year-old Lashaun managed to escape.

"I can't hear nothing no more from them. I can't see them no more. I can't hold them no more. I can't do none of that," said Datrice to the station.

Newburgh police announced Wednesday that the apparent murder-suicide took place after Armstrong was distraught over rumors her boyfriend had been cheating on her. Thursday morning, her sister said she had been acting strange and paranoid over the past few weeks, reports the station.

"She was talking to me about how she felt someone was watching her, she felt like there was pages of her diary missing the lights in her house were flickering on and off," sister Darice Armstrong said to the station.

Wednesday night, family and friends lit candles and laid stuffed animals at the scene, the station reports.

"Question is we'll never know or understand why, but all I'm just saying is just, pray with us while we go through this difficult time," Datrice told the station.

Complete coverage of the Newburgh murder-suicide on Crimesider

20 Photos

Mom drives into river, kills 3 kids, 1 escapes

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Add a Comment
by TheLionScribe April 14, 2011 8:55 PM EDT
Ego
according to other news sources, ego appeaared to be a factor.
She succeeded in having the father never seeing the kids again. Could she dot it legally? " She said she was trying to get a court order so he could never see the kids again."
Even though more moms are killing the children, the courts still give mothers physical custody. Something is wrong with the system. Yea, women have PAC groups and man don't. Meanwhile, the children suffer or die.
Almost like Suzan Smith, but Suzan tried to blame others, even though it did not work.
Reply to this comment
by Imthaid2 April 14, 2011 7:47 PM EDT
"I can't hear nothing no more from them. I can't see them no more. I can't hold them no more. I can't do none of that,"

What she REALLY said:

Me cantz hear nuttin no mo fom dem. Me cantz see dem no mo. Me cantz hole dem no mo. Me cantz do none o' dat.
Reply to this comment
by TYoungWilliams April 14, 2011 6:35 PM EDT
Tanya Young Williams writes:
WHEN LIFE IS SO BAD THAT DEATH SEEMS THE BETTER OPTION.

In light of our recent economy and the rippling and crippling effects it has on our culture, it is no surprise that many more people, than one would expect, contemplate death over life. A young 25 year old, single mother of four, decides that her future is not worth living for because her past. She also killed her children and thus their decision making ability about their futures.

As a single mother of two, and one who contemplates many things in life - including death - never have I thought that I had the right to kill my children's future. I feel so sorry for the pain this young woman must have felt for a very long time. Yet, I'm equally angry that she robbed the futures of her three children - one of whom might have risen above their circumstances and become a tremendous contributor to our country's history.

When did her pain begin. She was only 25 with 4 children. Who she was, what she experienced and how she was living is a sad testament to the cultural and economic gap that continues to widen between certain demographics within our culture.

I wish that I could have been there just to be her friend. If you need someone to talk to email me at Tanya@TanyaYoungWilliams.com.
Reply to this comment
by CherieMarianne April 14, 2011 6:32 PM EDT
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD THIS? A single parent puts his/her own social life above the welfare of the children? Worried her boyfriend was cheating? TOUGH SH*T, WOMAN. YOUR LOVE LIFE HAS NO MEANING OR VALUE COMPARED TO THE PRECIOUS CHILDREN YOU GAVE BIRTH TO. Selfish, evil, immature, soulless. God bless and protect the little one who survived.
Reply to this comment
by jerseyrose123 April 27, 2011 6:53 PM EDT
TO THE FAMILY OF MRS. ARMSTRONG: I am depply sorry for your lost and could not even imagine what you all are feeling right now. I will say a specail prayer for your lost i could not imagine what lashuana was feeling and for how long but this story touch my heart we are all so quick to judge I want u to know i am not judging and hope that the mother of lashuana and her family and surving son gets threw this and remember their is lots of people who will be praying for you guys may lashuana and her children rest in peace.

jersey!
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