A woman at the center of a custody dispute is accused of killing her two young children in their Massachusetts home, authorities said.
Arrest and Charges
Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, faces two counts of murder in the deaths of her children, 7-year-old Kai and 6-year-old Ella. An arrest warrant was issued Saturday by Massachusetts State Police.
MacAusland is currently being held in Vermont and is expected to appear in court in Bennington County on a fugitive charge as officials work to return her to Massachusetts.
Investigation Details
The case began Friday night when Wellesley police conducted a welfare check after being contacted by a Vermont police department. Officers discovered the children deceased inside the family home.
Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances of the deaths, and it remains unclear whether MacAusland has obtained legal representation.
Custody Dispute Background
Court records reveal an ongoing divorce and custody battle between Janette MacAusland and her husband, Samuel MacAusland.
Samuel filed for divorce in October after nine years of marriage, seeking custody of the children and the family home. Janette later filed a counterclaim requesting the same.
Earlier this month, both parties agreed to involve a neutral third party to evaluate custody arrangements. A guardian ad litem was appointed on April 21 to represent the children’s interests.
Community Impact
The children attended Schofield Elementary School, where grief counselors are being made available to students and staff.
School officials described the tragedy as a devastating loss for the entire community, as families and educators process the sudden deaths.
Ongoing Case
The investigation remains active as authorities prepare for extradition proceedings and further court action in Massachusetts.
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