Massachusetts acupuncturist indicted for strangling two young children

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 15:20 · Archive

Janette MacAusland, 49, has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly strangling her children Kai, 7, and Ella, 6.

Janette MacAusland, a 49-year-old acupuncturist, has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of her children Kai, 7, and Ella, 6, in their Wellesley, Massachusetts home in April. MacAusland was arrested in Vermont after fleeing to her aunt's home, where she arrived in a distraught state with a visible neck injury and reportedly told her family she had killed the children.

Coroners revealed this week that the children died from mechanical asphyxia and the combined effects of drugs including zolpidem, lorazepam, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia, while lorazepam treats anxiety. According to the New York Post, MacAusland allegedly told police "I strangled them and then I tried to kill myself," and reportedly confided in her aunt that she had attempted to jump off a bridge but could not.

At the time of the deaths, MacAusland was embroiled in a bitter custody battle and divorce from the children's father, Samuel MacAusland, with disputes over custody and control of the family home. She faces life imprisonment without parole if convicted of first-degree murder. She remains held without bail at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center, with her case set for Norfolk County Superior Court.

How it is being reported

• Cause of death for 2 young children allegedly killed by acupuncturist mom Janette MacAusland revealedElla and Kai MacAusland's causes of death were revealed by coroners after their mother was indicted for murder.New York Post · 22 Oct, 15:03
• Acupuncturist mother is indicted for the strangulation murders of her two young children at $1.5m New England home while she was going through nasty divorceJanette MacAusland, 49, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Monday by a grand jury. She allegedly strangled her kids, Kai and Ella, to death on April 24 in Massachusetts.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 14:43

In this story: Janette MacAusland · Kai MacAusland · Ella MacAusland · Samuel MacAusland · Wellesley · Massachusetts · Vermont

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