Kailey Erhart, 22, has been accused of killing two of her children and injuring a third in a knife attack at her home in Mandan, North Dakota. The alleged incident occurred on Thursday evening, August 6, according to an affidavit obtained by local media.
Alleged Attack Details
Erhart allegedly killed her two daughters, three-year-old Morgan and five-month-old Ava. Her one-year-old son, Colton, was also stabbed but survived after undergoing extensive surgery.
Before the attack, Erhart allegedly sent a video to her estranged husband, Cameron, telling him to "say goodbye to your kids." She was also said to have chased Cameron and the children's grandmother out of the home with a knife.
Police Response
When police arrived, they found Erhart covered in blood and holding a knife to her own throat. Officers followed a trail of blood to a bedroom, where they found the three children on the floor with neck wounds.
Erhart was arrested at the scene. She faces nine charges, including two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and multiple counts of aggravated assault and terrorizing. She has not yet entered a plea.
Bail and Court Proceedings
Her bail was set at $3 million, according to Burleigh Morton Detention Center inmate records. A no-contact order has been enacted, preventing her from contacting the surviving child or family members. Her preliminary hearing and arraignment are set for October 6.
Police said the mother and father were in the middle of a separation at the time of the alleged attack, and Cameron had planned to file for divorce.
Mental Health History
Erhart appears to have struggled with mental health issues, including postpartum depression after Morgan's birth. In an April 2023 Facebook post, she wrote: "This last month and a half have definitely been some of the hardest times I have been through. I love Morgan to pieces and I'm so glad she's here, but my postpartum depression has definitely kicked my butt at times."
She continued: "Sometimes I feel so alone and stuck like nobody is there for me and I have nobody to talk to and sometimes I wish I would have waited to have Morgan. It's definitely been a wild ride considering I've felt so depressed and I thought Morgan would be better off with me gone, and other times like I don't know where I'd be without her."
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