A Texas mom allegedly tried to drown her three kids in an attempted murder-suicide plot last month after drugging them with Nyquil and tequila and then leading them into a pond on their sprawling estate, authorities said.
Jessica Quintana, 37, was found unresponsive in the water with her three children — ages 6, 11, and 15 — when cops were called to their home in Dayton back on Sept. 29, KHOU11 reported.
The mother, who was hit with a slew of charges on Monday, is accused of trying to kill the kids when her initial plan to pack up and leave the family home failed, according to the Liberty County District Attorney’s office.
“Plan A was to pack their belongings and to leave the residence. Plan B was only to be enacted if they could not leave,” the district attorney, Jennifer Bergman, said.
“Thankfully, things did not go as planned and Plan B was not able to be carried out.”
Authorities didn’t elaborate on why Quintana was trying to leave the home in the first place — or how her initial plan was thwarted.
But just hours after the plan failed, Quintana allegedly instructed the children to drink the alcohol and Nyquil concoction — and planned to roll them into the pond when they passed out, authorities said.
“We know they consume these substances based upon medical and toxicology records as well as information gathered from witnesses,” Bergman said.
Quintana’s husband and the father of the kids, Domingo Quintana, later came across the harrowing scene and called 911.
The mom and 11-year-old child were both unconscious, while the other two siblings were in distress, according to authorities.
The dad managed to pull the three children from the water before first responders arrived.
Quintana came close to drowning and ended up spending nearly a month in the hospital recovering.
She was taken into custody after she was discharged last Friday.
The children, who were also hospitalized in the immediate aftermath but have since recovered, are currently in Child Protective Services custody.
Their father, who has been charged in an unrelated animal abuse case, isn’t facing any charges over the alleged murder-suicide plot, authorities said.
Quintana has been charged with two counts of injury to a child and one count of attempt to commit aggravated assault.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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