Mother charged with murder after killing her two sons
A mother has been charged with murdering her two sons and attempting to kill her grandfather before jumping out of her 11th-floor apartment.
Aleah Newell was held without bail on Saturday after she left one of her sons in the bath and threw another from the window of the flat she shared with them.
They were two years old and seven months old.
Newell, 20, then jumped out of the window herself.
She also allegedly stabbed her grandfather, who has not been named.
Both Newell and her grandfather are recovering in hospital at University of Chicago medical centre. He is in a critical condition but is expected to live.
Newell and her two-year-old son Johntavis Newell were found on the ground at about 2am on Thursday after police received a call about a person injured on the street.
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Officers then found her seven-month-old Ameer Newell in the bath, as well as the 70-year-old grandfather.
According to NBC Chicago, the grandfather had wounds to his face and told officers she jumped from the window while holding Johntavis.
Police say Newell stabbed Ameer and her grandfather several times before putting the baby in a “scalding” hot bath.
Officers say she then threw Johntavis out of the window and jumped.
Johntavis died of multiple blunt force injuries from the fall, while Ameer died of injuries from an assault, the medical examiner’s office said.
Her fall was broken by scaffolding, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, but she suffered a broken wrist and ankle. She has had surgery in hospital.
If found guilty, she faces a mandatory life sentence.
Newell’s mother, Zera Newell, told Sun-Times that Newell had taken her children to a women’s shelter earlier in the week and asked workers to take her children.
Ms Newell said her daughter had shown signs of depression in the past.
Ms Newell said: “I thought she was over that. Maybe behind closed doors it was another thing.”
WBBM-TV reports that The Salvation Army told them Newell stayed at a homeless shelter for families on Monday and Tuesday and left on Wednesday morning.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has started an investigation.
A spokesman for the department said they had no previous contact with the family.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
