Massachusetts Mother Faces Murder Charges in Tragic Case Involving Her Two Children
A tragic incident involving a Massachusetts family has led to murder charges against a mother who was embroiled in a custody battle. The accused, Janette MacAusland, 49, from Wellesley, is charged with the murders of her two children, 7-year-old Kai and 6-year-old Ella, as per the Massachusetts State Police.
On Saturday, authorities issued an arrest warrant for MacAusland, who is currently in custody in Vermont. She is anticipated to appear in Bennington County Superior Court on Monday on a fugitive from justice charge, with efforts underway to extradite her to Massachusetts.
Police initiated their investigation on Friday night after a Vermont police department requested a well-being check at the Wellesley home. Upon arrival, the police discovered the deceased children.
The family was in the midst of divorce proceedings, with probate court records indicating that Samuel MacAusland filed for divorce in October, seeking custody of the children and the marital home. Janette MacAusland countered with her own claim for custody and the home. In April, the couple agreed to a neutral third-party assessment regarding custody, appointing a guardian ad litem shortly after.
Details about Janette MacAusland’s legal representation remain unavailable as of Sunday. Efforts to contact the attorneys for both parties have been unsuccessful.
Kai and Ella were students at Schofield Elementary School, attending kindergarten and second grade, respectively. In response to the tragedy, the school will have counselors available on Monday to support students and staff. Superintendent David Lussier expressed the community’s grief, stating, “This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community.”
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Reporting for this story was contributed by Ramer from Concord, New Hampshire.
