WELLESLEY, Mass. — A Wellesley mother accused of killing her two children confessed to police that she strangled them and tried to kill herself, according to court documents.
Today, 49-year-old Janette MacAusland agreed to be extradited to Massachusetts in front of a Vermont judge after facing a fugitive from justice charge.
She will appear in court to face the murder charges within the next two weeks.
What we know
In an affidavit obtained by Boston 25, 49-year-old Janette MacAusland arrived at her aunt’s house on Friday night in Vermont around 8:44 p.m. with a visible wound on her neck in hysterics. She got her aunt’s attention by knocking on her window.
“After getting her to calm down, checked her neck, and could see that the blood on her was dried, Janette stated that she tried to kill herself,” the aunt allegedly told police.
“Asked her where her children were and she told me that she had killed them.”
Police arrived on scene and asked MacAusland if the children were okay, to which “she shook her head side to side.” She handed them a holiday photo of the family and handed it to one of the officers. When asked where the children were. she stated. “I strangled them and then I tried to kill myself.” She revealed that both of them were in her bed. She also told police that her husband was “at the lake.”
Vermont police contacted Wellesley police to conduct a welfare check, and found the two children deceased in bed, corroborating MacAusland’s earlier statements.
MacAusland was then transported to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. She would later be arrested for two counts of murder.
Custody battle was underway
Janette MacAusland and her husband, Samuel MacAusland, were in the midst of a custody battle after Samuel filed for divorce in October of 2025. The couple had been married for around nine years.
According to court documents, Janette had filed a counter claim for custody of the kids and the home.
A guardian ad litem was then assigned on April 16. Their next court date was set for early May.
Kai and Ella
6-year-old Ella and 7-year-old Kai were students at Schofield Elementary School in Wellesley.
“We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of two of our WPS students, a second grader and kindergartener at Schofield Elementary School. This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community,” said Superintendent David Lussier in a statement.
“Our crisis team is planning support for students, staff, and families as we prepare for the reopening of school on Monday. I ask that we all keep this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
A former babysitter for Kai and Ella told Boston 25 on Sunday that both children were full of life and laughter.
“They were two beautiful children who were full of life and laughter, and it pains me to think that the world should remember them only by the way their lives were tragically ended,” Cale Darrah said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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