A northern Minnesota woman killed two children, set their house on fire and left with another child, according to an indictment announced Monday.
Jennifer Marie Stately, 35, was charged with premeditated murder, murder while committing child abuse, arson, murder while committing arson, and felony child abandonment. Her lawyer, Paul Eng, said in an email to The Associated Press that there was a “robust basis” for her not guilty plea, but did not elaborate.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the victims were Stateley’s children, ages 6 and 5.
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According to the indictment, Stateley attacked the children with a knife on the Red Lake Indian Reservation on March 15, then set the house on fire and left with a third child. The Star Tribune reported that their third child is a 3-year-old son.
A Minnesota woman has been charged with killing two children, fleeing with a third and setting a house on fire. (Fox News)
One of the children died from the stab wounds. The other person died from smoke inhalation from the fire, according to the indictment and a news release from U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Lugar.
An Amber Alert was issued immediately after the fire was discovered. About an hour later, a driver spotted a vehicle matching the description and called 911. Todd County deputies stopped Stateley and found the surviving child, who had “obvious signs of child neglect,” a news release from Luger’s office said.
He duly appeared in court on Monday and was ordered jailed pending further court proceedings.
Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Enforcement said this incident proved the value of the Amber Alert.
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“I want to thank all the Minnesotans who acted quickly and bravely in this case, and all of the Minnesotans who joined in the search when the child needed it most,” Evans said in a news release.
