Massachusetts Mom Charged With Killing Kids Indicted On 1st-Degree Murder

WELLESLEY, MA — A Wellesley mom charged with killing her two kids was indicted Monday on two counts of first degree murder.

Janette MacAusland, 49, was arrested in Bennington, Vermont, on April 24 when her 7-year-old son, Kai, and 6-year-old daughter, Ella, were found dead in their Wellesley home.

The children's bodies were discovered after a highly distraught and bleeding MacAusland showed up at a relative's home in the Bennington area, according to police.

MacAusland waived extradition proceedings in Vermont.

Probate court records show MacAusland's husband, Samuel MacAusland, filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage and sought custody of the children and the home.

Janette MacAusland later filed a counterclaim, also seeking custody and the home. On April 16, they filed a joint motion agreeing to have a neutral third party investigate and make recommendations about custody.

Janette MacAusland's LinkedIn page lists her profession as Associate Acupuncturist at New England Integrated Health.

New England Intergrated Health's website had listed Janette MacAusland as a member of its "group of talented Acupuncturists and Chinese Herbalists," but she was removed from the site in the aftermath of the killings.

A date for MacAusland's arraignment has yet to be set.

Related:

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• MA Mom Charged With Killing Her 2 Children Waives Extradition