A Massachusetts woman accused of killing her 6 and 7-year-old children was indicted on a murder charge on Monday.
According to court records, Wellesley mother, Janette R. MacAusland, was indicted in Norfolk County District Court.
According to police, on April 24th, at approximately 9:15 p.m., the Bennington Vermont Police Department was contacted and requested to conduct a welfare check after a woman arrived at a family residence in Bennington appearing highly distraught. It was reported that the woman had a visible neck injury and was bleeding.
Upon making contact, the woman was identified as MacAusland. Officers attempted to engage her in conversation and, during the interaction, became increasingly concerned for the welfare of her children. As a result, officers requested that the Wellesley Police Department respond to MacAusland’s residence in Wellesley, Massachusetts, to conduct a check on the children.
At approximately 9:50 p.m., the Wellesley Police Department notified the Bennington Police Department that two children were found deceased inside the MacAusland residence. The Bennington Police Department subsequently began further assisting Massachusetts law enforcement authorities in their investigation into the deaths.
Based on information obtained during the investigation, MacAusland was taken into custody by the Bennington Police Department as a Fugitive from Justice. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued a Criminal Complaint Warrant charging MacAusland with two counts of Murder under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, Section 1.
Boston 25 News previously reported that in an affidavit, MacAusland arrived at her aunt’s home in Vermont visibly distraught and with a wound on her neck. She alerted her aunt by knocking on the window. Once her aunt calmed her down and examined the injury, she noticed the blood had already dried. MacAusland then told her aunt that she had tried to kill herself. When asked where her children were, MacAusland allegedly replied, “I killed them.” She allegedly told police that she strangled her children and then tried to kill herself.
MacAusland is currently being held without bail.
According to the Boston Globe, MacAusland was listed as an acupuncturist with New England Integrated Health. The company’s website also stated that she worked at Mass General Hospital.
NBC Boston previously revealed that MacAusland’s husband filed for divorce in October and sought custody of the children and their home. MacAusland later filed a counter claim.
