A 22-year-old North Dakota mother is accused of killing two of her young children and seriously injuring a third in a horrifying attack inside the family’s home.
Kailey Erhart was arrested Aug. 6 and is facing a long list of charges, including murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, terrorizing with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence, according to online jail records.
It was not immediately clear whether Erhart had entered a plea or retained an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
Mandan police were called to a home on Aug. 6, where officers allegedly encountered Erhart covered in blood and holding a kitchen knife to her throat, according to an arrest affidavit cited by ValleyNewsLive, KBTX News 3 and WDAY Radio.
Erhart reportedly made a comment about taking her own life before eventually dropping the knife and being taken into custody.
What officers allegedly discovered inside the home was devastating.
Police found Erhart’s three young children suffering from cuts to their necks, according to the affidavit.
Her 3-year-old child and 5-month-old baby were rushed to local hospitals but were pronounced dead.
Her 1-year-old child survived and underwent surgery for the injuries, authorities said.
Investigators allege the violence began even earlier.
According to the affidavit, Erhart allegedly chased the children’s father and grandmother while armed with a knife before the attacks on the children.
Police also allege that she pointed a gun at the children’s father during the confrontation.
In a video the father reportedly recorded on his phone, Erhart allegedly told him, “Say goodbye to your kids,” according to ValleyNewsLive.
The father was eventually able to wrestle the gun away from her following a struggle, authorities allege.
Erhart was later booked into the Burleigh County Detention Center.
A GoFundMe has since been launched to help the children’s father pay for funeral costs and medical expenses as the family deals with the devastating aftermath.
“He is a father trying to survive something no parent should ever have to face,” the fundraiser states. “Every day, we are carrying unimaginable grief while also trying to stay strong for his surviving child.”
Authorities have not publicly identified a possible motive behind the alleged killings.
Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler described the case as an extraordinarily painful one for everyone involved.
“I want to acknowledge this is an extreme, tragic and heartbreaking incident for the children involved, their families, our community and first responders who arrived on scene,” Ziegler said, according to KBTX.
“Our thoughts are with everyone that were impacted.”
The investigation into the deaths and the attack on the surviving child remains ongoing.
