Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, is facing murder charges for the deaths of her two children, 7-year-old Kai and 6-year-old Ella. According to the Associated Press (AP), Massachusetts State Police issued an arrest warrant for MacAusland on Saturday.
MacAusland is currently in Vermont, where she is expected to appear in Bennington County Superior Court on Monday. She is being held as a fugitive from justice while authorities arrange for her return to Massachusetts, the AP reported.
The investigation began Friday night when the Wellesley Police Department received a request from a Vermont police department to perform a well-being check on family members at a Wellesley home. Upon arrival, officers discovered the children deceased.
Court records reveal that Samuel MacAusland filed for divorce in October and sought custody of the children and the family home. Janette MacAusland later filed a counterclaim seeking the same. On April 16, both parents agreed to a neutral third-party investigation and recommendations regarding custody, leading to the appointment of a guardian on April 21, according to the AP.
David Lussier, Superintendent of Schofield Elementary School, where the children attended kindergarten and second grade, released a statement expressing the community’s grief. Counselors will be available at the school on Monday to provide support. Lussier asked that the community keep the family in “their thoughts and prayers,” according to the AP.