NY Daily News
January 19, 2014
A 28-year-old mother killed two of her children and severely injured her two others during a botched exorcism attempt, police said Saturday.
Police described a shocking bloody scene at the Germantown home Friday morning when they found a 1-year-old and 2-year-old dead in a home due to multiple stab wounds. A 5-year-old and 8-year-old were also injured and are receiving medical treatment, Montgomery police said.
Police announced Saturday the mother, Zakieya Latrice Avery, 28, and another woman, Monifa Denise Sanford, 21, were trying to perform an exorcism on the children. They were both charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Sanford was also injured at the home and was treated at a local hospital, police said. Avery was not injured. Police did not release any details about what happened inside the home, saying it was under investigation.
An exorcism is an attempt to rid a person of demonic or other spiritual forces.
Norell Harris, 1, and Zyana Harris, 2, were both killed as a result of the exorcism at the family’s home. Taniya Harris, 5, and Martello Harris, 8, are still hospitalized with undisclosed injuries.
“Cases like this are heartbreaking,” Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement. “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.”
Sanford lived at the home but is not a member of the family. The two women are being held without bond, police said.
The discovery was made at 9:30 a.m. when police arrived at the home.
Police had actually been called to the residence the night before when a neighbor spotted an unattended child in a car. But the two women exited the house and got the child right before police arrived.
The women refused to talk to police when the officers approached their door.
The county’s Child Protective Services were told of the incident and asked to follow up, police said.
“They are innocent children,” Kristina Halon, a neighbor told TV Station WJLA. “What could they possibly have done? I’m going to go hug my 3-year-old to death.”