Mother charged after toddler twins thrown 75ft into river

A MOTHER has been charged with murder and attempted murder for allegedly throwing her twin sons into the Mississippi River on July 4.

One toddler died the other was rescued.

Naomi Gaines, 24, also jumped into the river, shouting “Freedom!” on the way down, according to authorities. She was rescued, taken to a hospital and later arrested.

Gaines was charged with the murder of her 14-month-old son, Sincere Understanding Allah, and with attempted murder of his twin brother, Supreme Knowledge Allah, who survived the 75ft fall and was rescued from the water by an onlooker.

The episode unfolded in front of thousands of people who were at the Taste of Minnesota food and music festival. Many of the festival-goers were settling near the waterfront for the fireworks show.

Gaines took the twins to the festival looking “for a friendly face”, authorities said in court papers.

She pushed her pushchair to the Wabasha Street Bridge, kissed each son and said she was sorry before throwing the boys from the bridge one at a time, authorities said.

According to authorities, Gaines told officers she would “rather be dead than live in a place where I’m not free to walk around. I’m not free to be who I am”.

Police Commander Brian Coyle said Gaines was clear-headed when she spoke with police but he would not discuss what she said.

Neighbours and friends have described Gaines as a sad and lonely woman. Her sister, Phyllis Chew, said that Gaines was always a “very caring mother” but had been under “continuous and emotional distress over a long period of time”.

Gaines has other children who were placed with relatives, police said.