A Massachusetts woman is facing murder charges after her two young children were found dead inside their Wellesley home, authorities said. Janette MacAusland, 49, was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her 6-year-old daughter, Ella, and 7-year-old son, Kai, according to court records. She is currently being held in Vermont and will appear in Bennington County Superior Court on a fugitive from justice charge as authorities seek her extradition to Massachusetts.
The incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. on Friday when Wellesley Police responded to a well-being check request from Vermont authorities at a home on Edgemoor Avenue. Officers found the children deceased inside the residence. The children were students at Schofield Elementary School, where counselors will be available to support grieving classmates and staff upon the school’s reopening.
Background: Custody Dispute
The case has been linked to an ongoing custody dispute between MacAusland and her estranged husband, Samuel MacAusland. Court records show that Samuel filed for divorce in October 2023 after nine years of marriage, seeking custody of the children and the family home. Janette later filed a counterclaim, also seeking custody and the property. On April 16, the couple jointly agreed to have a neutral third party investigate and make custody recommendations, and a guardian ad litem was appointed on April 21.
Community Reaction
Neighbors expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. Jeffrey Peng, a senior at Wellesley High School who lived near the family, described the children as cheerful and active. “We’d see them biking up and down the road,” he said. “Pretty heartbreaking.”
Superintendent David Lussier of Wellesley Public Schools issued a statement calling the deaths an “unimaginable loss” for the community. Counseling services will be available to students and staff upon the school’s reopening.
Authorities have not yet disclosed details about a possible motive or the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths. Information about MacAusland’s legal representation was not immediately available.