A 22-year-old North Dakota woman is accused of slitting her children's throats, killing her two daughters and leaving her son critically injured. Kailey Erhart faces nine criminal charges, including Class AA felony murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault.
Police found Erhart at her home on August 6, covered in blood and holding a knife. Her children were unresponsive in a bedroom with neck wounds. Her three-year-old and five-month-old daughters died. Her one-year-old son survived after extensive surgeries, though his condition is unknown.
Attack followed threats and divorce
According to an affidavit, Erhart's husband had previously reported her threats to harm herself and the children, leading to her placement in a mental health facility within the last 12 to 18 months. The couple was in the process of divorcing.
Before the attack, a video on her husband's phone showed Erhart holding a gun and telling him to 'say goodbye to your children.' The father said he grabbed the firearm, and Erhart bit and scratched him. He dismantled the weapon and scattered the pieces to prevent harm.
Mother chased family out, begged officers to kill her
Erhart allegedly chased her husband and the children's grandmother out of the house with a knife and locked the door. When officers arrived, she was in the kitchen, holding a knife to her throat and begging them to kill her.
Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler said at a press conference: “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.” He added, “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.”
Mother claims no memory of attack
In custody, Erhart said she did not remember what happened but recalled holding a knife when police arrived. She said she had put the children to bed, and their throats had been cut before then. She has not yet entered a plea.
Her bond was set at $3 million cash due to “the extreme violence in these alleged charges and the threat to the community, victims, and children,” said District Judge Marina Spahr. Erhart is due in court on October 6 for a preliminary hearing and arraignment.
