Oregon Mother Charged in Alleged Murder-Suicide Attempt

An Oregon woman described as a “great” mother by her ex-husband has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly attempting to suffocate her three preschool-aged children by pumping exhaust fumes into her car, while reportedly convincing them they were having a slumber party as part of an alleged murder-suicide plot.

Chardonnay Marie Benavidez, 32, was arrested on three counts of attempted first-degree murder after contacting 911 to report that she and her children were unconscious. This incident unfolded in Kaiser, located about 80 miles south of Portland, where police arrived to find her with her twins, a 2-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy.

Authorities discovered a “makeshift device” connecting the car’s exhaust pipe to the interior. A gun was also located inside the vehicle. Reports suggest she might have been researching suicide methods for a week prior to the incident.

Paramedics took all four individuals to a hospital for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, and they were eventually released. Following her treatment, Benavidez was taken into custody.

The troubling events unfolded on a Saturday night, with Benavidez making her first court appearance the following Monday. According to court documents, she had sole custody of the children after her divorce in 2024.

Her ex-husband, Antonio Benavidez, expressed shock at the situation, stating he could not believe the news and was frustrated by hospital protocols that prevented him from accessing information about their condition. He highlighted that she had always been a caring mother and recounted how he learned about her actions through police intervention.

Despite having noticed some mental health struggles, he stated he never believed she would harm their children. Afterward, he found their home stripped of belongings, mentioning, “She donated everything.” It seemed that this act had been planned for some time, as prosecutors contended she had contemplated various options leading to the decision for everyone to “sleep together.”

The judge denied Benavidez bail, with her next court appearance scheduled for later this month. It’s unclear who is currently providing care for the three boys.