A Maryland mother and another woman are being charged with murdering two children and wounding two others while attempting an exorcism.
According to FOX News, two toddlers were stabbed to death and two others were seriously wounded inside a home in Germantown. northwest of Washington, D.C., after the two women reportedly thought an exorcism was necessary to remove the presence of the devil.
Zakieya L. Avery, 28, the mother of the dead and injured children, was charged Saturday with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, Capt. Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County police department said in a statement.
A second woman, 21-year-old Monifa Sanford, who killed the children while trying to perform the exorcism, was charged with first degree murder and attempted murder. Sanford was briefly hospitalized after the incident.
"Investigators have learned that the two defendants believed that they were performing an exorcism," officials said. "The investigation into this motive and other aspects of the crime continue at this point."
FOX reported that Friday neighbors called police and reported "suspicious activity" at the home. One neighbor reportedly told police they had seen a car with a door open and a knife next to it. Capt. Jones said police recovered two knives from the home.
"I was walking first around 7:15 with my dog and I see the knife on the floor very close to the car," Elisa Aloras said, according to FOX News.
Norell Harris, 1, and his sister, Zyana Harris, 2, suffered fatal stab wounds, according to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Two other children, Taniya Harris, 5, and Martello Harris, 8, remained hospitalized
"Cases like this are heartbreaking," county Police Chief Tom Manger said, "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims along with the 911 operators, police officers, evidence technicians, and fire and EMS personnel that responded."
Both women are being held without bond. According to CNN, on Thursday neighbors called police to report a child left alone in a car. When police arrived, the child and the car were gone and no one was home.
"Prior to officers arriving, two women exited the townhouse, retrieved the child and re-entered the home," Montgomery County Police said. "Officers attempted to speak with the residents, but received no response at the door. "
Police asked that the county child protection services to follow up, but there have been no reports on whether the complaints were fulfilled.
