Ariz. mom admits to trying to poison kids on Christmas

PHOENIX - Police say an Arizona woman who tried to kill her ex-husband and poison her four children, including a teenage daughter found dead in her home on Christmas Day, has told authorities she didn't want her ex to have custody of the kids.

Police say 35-year-old Connie Villa also told them she tried to kill all of her children by forcing them to ingest prescription narcotic drugs, according to CBS affiliate KPHO. Villa said she was not able to force one of her daughters, Aniarael, to ingest the drugs so she suffocated her to death with her bare hands, according to police, reports the station.

Villa was arrested Sunday on suspicion of one count of first-degree murder in the death of Aniarael and four counts of attempted murder in the attack on her other children and her ex-husband. The incident took place at Villa's apartment in Casa Grande, about 50 miles south of Phoenix.

Villa is accused of luring her ex-husband to her apartment and then stabbing him repeatedly in the upper torso. He was reportedly able to flee the scene and call police.

When authorities responded to the scene, they reportedly found Villa in the apartment with self-inflicted stab wounds to her upper torso. She was holding a knife to her chest and had her three youngest children at her side, police said. Aniarael was found dead in the bathroom.

Villa remains held without bond. Her public defender didn't return calls for comment Tuesday, and telephone numbers for Villa's family members were disconnected.

The three surviving children, ages 3, 5 and 8, were in good condition. Police say they had trace amounts of opiates in their systems.