This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A North Dakota mother is accused of stabbing two of her children to death in what police described as a "horrific" attack that left even officers traumatized by the sight of the bloody scene.
Kailey Erhart, 22, stabbed her 5-month-old and 3-year-old children to death on Thursday after waving a gun at her estranged husband and threatening to kill herself, according to police.
Her 1-year-old child survived the attack, but suffered serious injuries. The child underwent surgery, but police have not released the latest medical status.
Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler said the crime scene was likely one of the most horrific things his officers will ever see.
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"A scene like that is something that nobody should ever have to see, and the way [the officers] came through in one of the most horrific times that they’ll probably experience in their life, I’m proud," Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler said at a press conference.
"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," he added. "Our thoughts are with everyone that were impacted."
The kids' father, who intended to file for divorce, was at home with their children when police were alerted that Erhart was threatening to end her own life, KFYR reported.
Earlier that day, Erhart threatened her husband with a gun she had recently purchased, but he was able to disarm her during a physical struggle, take the gun apart and scatter the pieces. Erhart bit and scratched him during the struggle, according to the report.
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The children’s grandmother was at the home when the killings happened, telling police that Erhart chased her and the kids' father out of the house with a knife before the alleged slayings.
Erhart faces nine charges, including two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault and terrorizing.
A judge set Erhart’s cash bond at $3 million, highlighting "the extreme violence in these alleged charges and the threat to the community, victims, and children," according to KFYR.
The court also issued formal no-contact orders barring Erhart from contacting the surviving victims or family members.
Erhart's preliminary hearing and arraignment are set for October 6.
A GoFundMe created to support the children and their father has raised more than $25,000 as of Sunday night.
"He is a father trying to survive something no parent should ever have to face," the fundraiser created by the man's mother reads. "I lost two precious souls in a devastating tragedy after they were murdered by their mother, and the pain is more than I can put into words. Every day, we are carrying unimaginable grief while also trying to stay strong for his surviving child, who is receiving ongoing medical care and facing challenges no child should ever have to endure."
