A mom who was initially charged with two counts of malice murder received additional charges of a third murder count and arson from the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.
Darlene Brister was arrested late Friday after a 911 call reported a fire on Woodwind Drive Home in the Yorkville community. The sheriff's office said two of the youngest, eight-month-old Devonte and three-year-old Donovan, were found dead inside the home with stab wounds. A third boy, Devin, 5, died at the hospital from his injuries. Another child, eight-year-old Dante, had to undergo surgery. His father, Ricky Brister, said he would make it, Atlanta Journal Constitution says.
Brister's husband was out of town when the fateful incident took place. Investigators have yet to release the motive for the killing.
Mom stabbed kids to death
Police said the mom attacked her children and set their home on fire Friday night. A 911 call by a neighbor revealed the details of what happened at home before the fire. A neighbor said on the 911 call that the mom had already killed the baby. She then turned to the other children, who jumped out of the window to escape the chaos, according to 11Alive.
Per the sheriff's office, the seven children were inside the house on Woodwind Drive when Brister began stabbing five of her seven children as the house burned down around them. The nine-month-old baby died immediately, along with her three and five-year-old children. Two older children were hurt but survived.
On Monday, Brister faced charges of malice murder. Brister's husband told reporters that his wife had been struggling with mental health issues, and they tried to get her help.
When responders arrived at the "chaotic scene," they found seven children in the burning home, with five sustaining stab wounds. The house fire was extinguished after the police arrived.
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Booked in Paulding County Detention Center
Neighbor Willie Hayes said that he could see the fire in the house. It saddened him to see authorities bringing the kids' bodies out, but the mom was still hiding inside.
Authorities said that Brister was located on the property and arrested soon after. The older siblings, a 14-year-old and 16-year-old, were found inside the home unharmed. According to the GoFundMe page, some of the children were able to escape after jumping from a second-story window.
In an interview with Fox5, Ricky said although he does not condone his wife's actions, he is asking people to have compassion for his wife of 17 years as she has been battling depression. Creators of the GoFundMe page are raising money for housing, funeral cost, and other basic needs of the family, Oxygen True Crime says.
