A Massachusetts woman who was seeking custody of her two young children in a divorce has been accused of killing them in their home, according to authorities and court records.
Massachusetts State Police issued an arrest warrant Saturday charging Janet McCausland, 49, of Wellesley, with two counts of murder in the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Kay and 6-year-old Ella. McAusland is being held in Vermont, where she is expected to appear Monday in Bennington County Superior Court on a fugitive-from-justice charge while authorities seek to return her to Massachusetts.
The investigation began Friday night when Wellesley police received a phone call from the Fairmount Police Department requesting to check on family members at a home in Wellesley. The police found the children dead.
Probate court records show Samuel McCausland filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage and requested custody of the children and home. Janet McCausland later filed a counterclaim also seeking custody and home. On April 16, they filed a joint motion approving a neutral third party to investigate and make recommendations regarding custody, and a guardian ad litem was appointed on April 21.
Information about the criminal case, including whether MacAusland is represented by an attorney, was not available Sunday. Lawyers representing both MacAuslands could not be reached for comment.
The children were in kindergarten and second grade at Schofield Elementary School, where counselors will be on site Monday to provide support. In a statement Saturday night, Superintendent David Lussier asked the community to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers.
“This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not only in Schofield but across our entire community,” he said.
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Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.