A Palm Bay mother is facing two counts of murder in the death of her two young children and one count of attempted murder of her five-month old baby, who remains in critical condition, police said.
Jessica Lacey McCarty, 33, of Palm Bay, is being held without bond at the Brevard County Detention Center.
McCarty is accused of killing her daughter Laci McCarty, 7, and Philip McCarty, 6, on Friday evening, although police have not said how the children died.
Officers went to McCarty’s home on Kenmore Street Northwest, after receiving an emergency call from a woman who claimed to have killed her children, according to reports.
When they arrived, police found McCarty in the front of her house, wielding a butcher knife. Ignoring commands to drop the knife, officers deployed several beanbag rounds to gain compliance.
Inside the home, investigators found three unresponsive children: Laci and Philip McCarty and Christopher Swist, a five-month-old baby.
Laci and Philip were pronounced dead at a local area hospital. Authorities have not said how the children were killed.
Christopher remains in critical condition at a children’s hospital in Orlando.
Jessica McCarthy was also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
McCarty, who had a first court appearance Sunday, waived her right to appear and is reportedly on a medical watch at the Brevard County Jail.
