The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
On March 6, a woman described as “delusional” had taken her three children, ages 3, 9, and 10 from their home on a car ride that nearly ended in death. Her sister says the woman was “talking about Jesus and that there’s demons in my house,” according to a 911 call.
The woman had recently got out of a “domestic violence situation” in a different state, but apparently was having issues of mental illness, prompting her sister to call the police when she feared for the safety of the three children.
Police pulled over the woman, but the children were calm, smiling, and did not appear to be in any danger. She was released, but shortly later the police were notified a second time when the vehicle was seen driving into the Atlantic Ocean, near Daytona Beach.
Witnesses say they heard the children’s screams coming from the van, who were crying and waving for help from the van’s windows. One of the children was fighting his mother for the steering wheel. A lifeguard unbuckled a three-year old child from her car seat, while the others were carried to safety. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident.
The woman was calm, and witnesses say she had a “possessed” look on her face. She was arrested at the scene and charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse, according to the County Sheriff. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison.
If you or a loved one are charged with a crime, call Orange County criminal lawyer Staycie R. Sena immediately at (949) 477-8088.