Mother arrested after 2 children found dead inside Wellesley, Massachusetts home during wellness check
Janette MacAusland, the mother of two children who were found dead inside a Wellesley, Massachusetts home has been charged with murder.
The Norfolk County District Attorney said that the Wellesley Police had received a call around 9:30 p.m. on Friday from a Vermont police department for a wellness check at a home on Edgemoor Avenue.
Bennington police said on Sunday that MacAusland, 49, arrived at a family home "appearing highly distraught" and was bleeding from her neck.
Once police arrived at the Wellesley house, they found two children, ages 6 and 7, dead in the home. The identities of the children have not been released, but they were part of the Wellesley public school system.
Janette MacAusland charged with children's murders
On Saturday, MacAusland, was charged with two counts of murder, according to the Norfolk DA.
She is currently being held at a correctional facility in Vermont and will appear in Rutland Superior Court on Monday to answer for a fugitive from justice charge. Police are working to bring MacAusland back to Massachusetts to answer for the murder charges.
Probate court records show Samuel MacAusland filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage and sought custody of the children and the home. Janette MacAusland later filed a counter claim also seeking custody and the home. On April 16, they filed a joint motion agreeing to have a neutral third party investigate and make recommendations about custody, and a guardian was appointed on April 21.
"Unimaginable loss"
Wellesley Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Lussier issued a statement about the death of the two students, a second-grader and kindergartener at Schofield Elementary School
"This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community. Our crisis team is planning support for students, staff, and families as we prepare for the reopening of school on Monday. I ask that we all keep this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," Lussier said.
A neighbor who is familiar with the family said the situation was surprising.
"[The kids] seemed very well cared for, their parents seemed to love them a lot. None of this seems consistent with what we've seen walking our dog by the house," James said. "It's very sad and horrible. These were adorable little kids."
Neighbor Vicky Chen said that police had come to her home to ask for camera footage.
"I feel very sad for the loss of the two kids," neighbor Vicky Chen said. "Everyone feels very bad for the loss of the two kids. We just wonder what is going on."
Wellesley, Massachusetts is around 15 miles from Boston.
