Massachusetts Mother Arrested In Vermont In Alleged Killing Of Two Children
A Massachusetts mother was arrested in Vermont on April 27, 2026, accused of killing her two children during an alleged custody dispute, authorities and local reports say (Fox News).
Police in Vermont took the woman into custody after investigators found the two children, who were later determined to be deceased, and began an inquiry into the circumstances, according to the report (Fox News). The woman is identified in coverage as being from an affluent Boston suburb, and officials tied the incident to a custody dispute.
The episode traces back to reports of an ongoing custody battle involving the family, which mainstream coverage says was a central factor in the alleged killings (Fox News). Missing from early accounts are full details about the children's ages, the mother's name, and whether formal charges have been filed.
Investigators said the inquiry is active and that more information will be released as it becomes available. Authorities have not yet published additional details about the investigation, the children's identities, or the legal next steps.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday night, April 24, 2026, Bennington, Vermont police encountered Janette MacAusland with a bloody neck injury and became concerned for her children's welfare.
- Wellesley, Massachusetts police conducted a welfare check the same night and found MacAusland's two children, ages 7 and 6, dead inside the family home.
- Massachusetts issued a criminal warrant charging MacAusland with two counts of murder, and she is being held in Vermont as a fugitive from justice pending arraignment.
- Divorce filings from October 2025 show MacAusland's husband was seeking custody of the children, who were students at Schofield Elementary School in Wellesley.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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