BROCKTON, MA (WHDH) — A Brockton mother charged with stabbing her two young children to death inside an apartment in the city was arraigned Tuesday on two counts of murder.
The horrific deaths of Latarsha Sanders’ two sons, ages 5 and 8, were detailed in Brockton District Court.
Prosecutors said the 43-year-old mother told police the killings were part of a ritualistic incident. Sanders is accused of stabbing her oldest son, Edson Brito, 50 times before attacking 5-year-old Lason Brito with a kitchen knife inside a third-floor apartment at 247 Prospect Street
The two boys were found dead in separate beds when police responded to a 911 call Monday just after 12 p.m., according to investigators. Sanders allegedly cleaned up the children and mopped up the crime scene. State police say they located a kitchen knife left in the sink that is believed to be the murder weapon.
Pros.: boys stabbed with kitchen knife, knife found in sink. Oldest son stabbed 50 times. #7news
— Kimberly Bookman (@KimberlyBookman) February 6, 2018
Pros.: police found boys upstairs in beds stabbed to death #7News
— Kimberly Bookman (@KimberlyBookman) February 6, 2018
Prosecutors said an ambulance was dispatched to the home because Sanders reported having a medical incident, but that she never mentioned anything about her sons.
Neighbors told police that Sanders had kids at home, which led to the gruesome discovery. The knife was later found in a sink in the kitchen, prosecutors said.
Prosecutor: ambulance dispatched because Sanders had medical indecent, she never mentioned kids welfare #7news
— Kimberly Bookman (@KimberlyBookman) February 6, 2018
Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter’s office sent out a robocall around 12:50 p.m. to city council members confirming the stabbing deaths of the two children.
Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz announced the arrest of Sanders on Monday evening.
“This is a gruesome, disturbing and most of all a heartbreaking crime,” said Cruz.
Cruz said the two brothers were pronounced dead at the scene, sparking a homicide investigation.
“Sanders made statements that can be construed as admissions to this crime to the investigators,” said Cruz.
Cruz said Monday that it is believed the children were killed some time in the last 48 hours. Neighbors said they are shaken and frightened by the horrifying news.
“Just two kids. I can’t believe it. Why would you stab two kids?” a tearful Cassandre Lorvainis told 7News.
Sanders was ordered held without bail. She is next due in court on April 9.
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