Mother charged with killing children she believed needed to be exorcised

A Maryland woman charged with killing two of her children has told police officers she thought an exorcism was necessary to remove the presence of the devil and evil spirits.

Zakieya Latrice Avery, 28, of Germantown, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of the children, ages one and two. Montgomery County police responded to Avery’s home following a neighbour’s 911 call.

Police said they found the two children dead and two other siblings, ages 5 and 8, injured with stab wounds.