The quiet family home in North Dakota became the scene of an unimaginable tragedy. A 22-year-old mother, Kailey Erhart, is accused of attacking her three young children with a knife, killing two of them and leaving another seriously injured.
Kailey Erhart is facing multiple criminal charges following the horrifying incident in Mandan on August 6. According to court documents, police were called to the home after reports that children had been attacked, the NY Post reported.
When officers arrived, they found Erhart covered in blood and holding a knife to her own throat, according to investigators. She eventually dropped the weapon and reportedly begged officers to kill her.
Inside the home, police found her three children with serious injuries to their necks. The children were rushed to the hospital, but tragically, the 3-year-old girl and 5-month-old girl died from their injuries.
Her 1-year-old son survived after undergoing surgery. Authorities have not released further details about his condition. The children’s father was reportedly at the home when the terrifying situation began.
According to the affidavit, he had previously been threatened by Erhart and was in the process of separating from her. He told investigators that Erhart had recently obtained a handgun and threatened him with it.
Mom’s twisted five-words to husband trying to save kids
The father managed to take the firearm from her and dismantle it, scattering the pieces so it could not be used. But the situation quickly became even more frightening.
The children’s grandmother was also inside the home, and investigators say Erhart chased both of them out with a knife before locking the door.
Then came the words that the father had apparently captured on video. According to the affidavit, Erhart was seen holding one of the children while carrying a pistol.
“Say goodbye to your children,” she allegedly told the father. Moments later, police say the children were attacked.
Police describes horrifying scene
Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler spoke about the incident and praised the officers who responded.
He described it as an “extreme, tragic and heartbreaking incident” that affected the children, their family, the community and the first responders.
“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,” Ziegler said, per KBTX.
“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. Our thoughts are with everyone that were impacted,” Ziegler said.
Erhart was taken into custody and is now facing nine criminal charges, including two counts of murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault. Her bond was set at $3 million in cash.
Hearing on October 6
A judge also ordered her to have no contact with surviving victims or family members. Erhart has not entered a plea.
According to investigators, she later told police that she had put the children to bed and believed their throats had already been cut. She said she did not remember what had happened, but remembered having the knife in her hands when officers arrived.
The case has left a family grieving the loss of two young children, while another remains in the hospital. Erhart is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on October 6.
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