Mother from affluent Boston suburb accused of murdering two children during custody dispute

A parent from an affluent Boston suburb was arrested successful Vermont aft constabulary accidental she killed her 2 young children.

Janette MacAusland, 49, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, was taken into custody by constabulary successful Bennington, Vermont connected Friday nighttime aft she arrived astatine a household location successful that municipality "appearing highly distraught," and having a visible, bloody cervix injury.

"Officers attempted to prosecute her successful speech and, during the interaction, became progressively acrophobic for the payment of her children," the Bennington Police Department said successful a release.

A self-shot photograph of Janette MacAusland taken connected an chartless date. (Janette Reber/Facebook)

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Police accidental they contacted Wellesley authorities for a payment cheque astatine her Massachusetts home. When Wellesley constabulary arrived connected the scene, they made a grisly discovery. They accidental MacAusland's 2 children were recovered dead.

They took MacAusland into custody arsenic a fugitive from justice, and said Massachusetts issued a transgression warrant for 2 counts of murder. She is being held successful the Marble Valley Correctional Facility successful Vermont and volition beryllium arraigned Monday day astatine Rutland Criminal Division court.

A mugshot of Janette MacAusland, 49, who is accused of sidesplitting her 2 young children from April 24, 2026. (Bennington Police Department)

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The tribunal said it did not cognize whether Rutland has an attorney.

MacAusland's husband, Samuel MacAusland, filed for divorcement successful October aft 9 years of marriage, citing an "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage," tribunal records show. Those documents besides database their 2 children, seven-year-old Kai and six-year-old Ella. Samuel was seeking custody of the children.

The children attended Schofield Elementary School.

A Wellesley, Massachusetts constabulary cruiser from 2024. (Wellesley Police Department)

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"We were devastated to larn of the tragic decease of 2 of our WPS students, a second-grader and kindergartener astatine Schofield Elementary School," Wellesley Public schools said successful a connection shared with Fox News Digital.

"This is an unimaginable nonaccomplishment that volition beryllium profoundly felt not conscionable astatine Schofield but crossed our full community. Our situation squad is readying enactment for students, staff, and families arsenic we hole for the reopening of schoolhouse connected Monday. I inquire that we each support this household successful our thoughts and prayers during this hard time."