Murder-Suicide Attempt Antidepressants 06/06/2005 New York Mother Attempts to Kill Two Kids & Self
Summary:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=367383&category=ALBANY&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=6/6/2005
Mother tried to kill kids, cops say
Two children recovering in hospital after woman gave them her antidepressant drugs, authorities report
By MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writer
First published: Monday, June 6, 2005
ALBANY -- A suicidal 27-year-old Albany woman fed her two young children a nearly lethal overdose of antidepressant drugs Sunday before calling authorities who rushed the youngsters to the hospital, police said.
The 3-year-old boy and his 1-year-old sister were both in critical condition at Albany Medical Center Hospital, said Detective James Miller, a spokesman for the city's Department of Public Safety. Their mother, whose identity was not released by police, was being questioned by detectives late Sunday night.
"She was going to kill herself and take them with her," Miller said.
But after one of the children became ill, the mother summoned police to her Warren Street home at 4 p.m.
"She called 911 and said she had given her 1-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son antidepressants," Miller said.
When police arrived, the woman was holding the two youngsters in her arms. "It was obvious they were in some kind of distress," he said of the children.
The youngsters were taken by ambulance to Albany Med and treated by emergency room doctors. Miller said a doctor at the hospital told detectives that the children, due to their size and the amount of medication ingested, may have died if the woman had waited much longer to call police.
While the children were being cared for at the hospital, the mother was being questioned by police.
Police expected to arrest her, though no charges had been filed as of late Sunday.
"Right now, there is all indication she intentionally gave it to them," Miller said.
Police said the woman has battled depression for some time. She fed the children her medication, police said.