DEDHAM, Mass. — A Wellesley mother, accused of killing her two young children, faced a judge in Massachusetts this morning and pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution, MacAusland arrived at her aunt’s home on the evening of April 24 in Vermont with a visible wound on her neck in hysterics.
After her aunt got her to calm down, according to police, she told her that she had strangled her two kids and tried to kill herself.
“I wanted the 3 of us to go to God together but it didn’t work,” MacAusland allegedly said.
Vermont police contacted Wellesley police to conduct a welfare check, and found the two children, 7-year-old Kai and 6-year-old Ella, deceased in bed.
MacAusland was charged with two counts of murders and waived her extradition to be transported back to Massachusetts to face the charges last week as a fugitive from justice.
MacAusland’s next court hearing will be on July 13. Her defense requested her to be held at a women’s facility in South Bay.
On background
MacAusland and her husband Samuel were in the midst of a custody battle after Samuel filed for divorce in October of 2025. The couple had been together for 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.
Ella and Kai were students at Schofield Elementary School in Wellesley.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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