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A Massachusetts woman accused of killing her two young children was scheduled to appear Monday in Bennington County Superior Court, after authorities said Massachusetts State Police issued an arrest warrant charging her with two counts of murder. The accusation centers on the deaths of Kai MacAusland, 7, and Ella MacAusland, 6, who were found dead in their home in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Authorities said the case began Friday night after Wellesley Police received a request for a well-being check from a Vermont police department.
Massachusetts State Police issued the arrest warrant Saturday for Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, according to authorities and court records cited by the Associated Press. The charging document alleges murder in the deaths of her children, court and law enforcement information indicate.
Authorities said MacAusland is being held in Vermont and is expected to appear Monday in Bennington County Superior Court as Massachusetts officials seek to have her returned to Massachusetts. The Associated Press report said the Monday appearance would occur in a context involving a fugitive-from-justice charge.
The investigation began after Wellesley Police received the Vermont request for a well-being check on family members at a home in Wellesley, the report said. Officers went to the residence and found the children dead.
Court records cited by the Associated Press show that the woman’s custody dispute played out in the probate system over the course of the divorce. The report said Samuel MacAusland filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage and sought custody of the children and the home.
The records also say Janette MacAusland later filed a counterclaim seeking custody and the home. The report states that on April 16 the parties filed a joint motion agreeing to have a neutral third party investigate and make recommendations about custody, and that a guardian was appointed April 21.
The Associated Press report said information about the criminal case—such as whether MacAusland had legal representation—was not available Sunday, and that attorneys representing both MacAuslands could not be reached for comment.
The children attended Schofield Elementary School, according to the Associated Press report. The school’s superintendent, David Lussier, asked the community to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers, saying, “This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community,” in a statement Saturday night. The report said counselors will be on site Monday to provide support.