LCSO investigating attempted murder-suicide involving mother, three children in Kenefick area

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what appears to have been an attempted murder-suicide involving a mother and her three children early Monday morning, Sept. 29.

According to Capt. David Meyers, dispatchers received a 911 call just before 6 a.m. from a man who said his wife had attempted to drown their children—ages 15, 11, and 6—and herself in a pond in the family’s front yard. The property is located in the 9100 block of FM 1008 near Simmons Bottom Road, just outside Kenefick.

Two of the children—a 15-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy—were taken to the hospital and are reported to be in good condition. The mother and an 11-year-old daughter remain in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

“The information we received was that the children and the mother were by the water. This came from the dad. It was possible that the mother was trying to do something to the kids,” Meyers said during a press conference Monday afternoon.

When deputies arrived, all three children had already been pulled from the water, reportedly by their father. Deputies pulled the mother from the pond. Emergency responders began life-saving measures on the 11-year-old girl, who briefly regained consciousness. The mother never regained consciousness and was unable to breathe on her own at the scene, Meyers said.

According to Meyers, the father told investigators he heard a commotion in the front yard, possibly yelling from the children. While the pond sits about 75 feet from the family’s front door, the location where the incident occurred was closer to 150 feet away. The father drove to the area where the children were, though investigators have not specified whether he used a car or an off-road vehicle.

Early reports suggested the children may have been sedated with Nyquil and alcohol before the incident. Meyers cautioned that investigators have not confirmed this information.

“We have investigators down at Memorial Hermann and we have investigators at the house. There are numerous locations around the house that we are looking at. We are looking for reasons why this tragic event happened today,” he said.

When asked if authorities had previously been called to the residence, Meyers said deputies had been dispatched years ago for an assault but could not confirm if it was connected to the current occupants. Child Protective Services has also been contacted; however, there is no record of CPS being involved with the family in the past.

Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation of this alleged maternal suicide-filicide, which remains ongoing.