A Massachusetts mother accused of killing her two young children allegedly by strangulation made a stunning request in court Thursday, asking a judge to release her from custody and dismiss the murder case.

Janette MacAusland, 49, is accused of killing her 7-year-old daughter, Ella, and 6-year-old son, Kai, before fleeing Massachusetts for Vermont in April.

During a hearing in Dedham District Court on Thursday, MacAusland’s attorney, Joseph Krowski, argued that there was insufficient information to justify keeping his client behind bars and sought her release and dismissal of the case.

The judge rejected the requests and ordered MacAusland to remain jailed without bail.

Mother Allegedly Confessed After Fleeing to Vermont
According to court records, MacAusland allegedly told a Vermont police officer that she had strangled her children before attempting to take her own life.

She reportedly arrived unexpectedly at her aunt’s home in Bennington late one night with wounds across her neck.

“I strangled them and then I tried to kill myself,” MacAusland allegedly told the officer, according to a police report.

She also allegedly said that she wanted the three of them to die together.

After MacAusland’s aunt contacted authorities, Wellesley police went to the family’s home and discovered the children’s bodies inside a bedroom.

Prosecutors Await Official Cause of Death Determination
Prosecutors told the court Wednesday that they were still awaiting the medical examiner’s determination of the children’s official manners of death.

MacAusland has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and remains held without bail.

The latest hearing came shortly after a mistrial was declared in the separate case involving Lindsey Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children. Clancy’s defense had argued that she suffered from severe postpartum psychosis at the time of the deaths.

Custody Dispute Preceded Children’s Deaths
MacAusland had been involved in a contentious custody dispute with her husband, Samuel MacAusland, who filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage.

Court filings show that Samuel was seeking custody of the couple’s children and their home.

The parents had also asked for a third party to make recommendations regarding custody. A guardian was appointed on April 21, just three days before the children were allegedly killed.

Prosecutors previously said MacAusland arrived at her aunt’s home in an extremely distressed state on April 24, roughly 140 miles from the family’s Massachusetts residence.

The subsequent police response led investigators to the children’s home, where authorities discovered the two bodies.

Community Remembers Two Young Children
Ella and Kai attended Schofield Elementary School, where they were in second grade and kindergarten, respectively.

People who knew the family previously described MacAusland as a devoted mother, while photographs showed the family appearing happy together.

The case remains ongoing. MacAusland is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Course: NY Post