Police File Murder Charges Against Florida Woman Who Knifed Children; 2nd Kid Dies

Mar 22, 2015 07:23 AM EDT

(Photo : Mugshots.com) Police described Jessica McCarty, who was arrested for stabbing her three children, as having two police records in 2013 and 2009.

Florida police filed on Saturday murder charges against 33-year-old Jessica McCarty for murdering her children using a butcher's knife. That day, her six-year-old son, Philip McCarty, died, leaving only the five-month-old son, Christopher Swist, still in critical condition.

On Friday night, when the incident happened, McCarty's daughter, seven-year-old Laci McCarty died. Investigators are trying to contact the father of the two elder children.

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Orlando hospital authorities declared dead the six-year-old boy at 11:22 p.m. ET, reports Chronicle Bulletin. McCarty is at an area hospital being treated for wound that are not life-threatening, said police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez.

Lieutenant Mario Augello, investigator, said they are still trying to verify how the events transpired, including how and why it happened.

"This is still a very active criminal investigation and our priority as always is making sure we have the right answers so there can be justice in the death and injuries of these innocent children," he said.

911 received a call at 5:57 p.m. from a home at 1100 block of Kenmore Street NW. The caller was the father of the infant. When police arrived, he was performing CPR on his infant son he brought outside the house.

McCarty was in the front yard when the officers arrived. She did not show her hand and refused two or three times until she showed her hand holding the bloodied knife.

When McCarty refused the officers' request to put down the knife, they shot her with five or six beanbag rounds that were powerful to subdue but would not kill her.

Police Chief Mark Renkens disclosed that McCarty had a string of offenses in the past.

In 2013, she was convicted of buying controlled substance through fraud and violating parole. In 2009, her DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving.

According to neighbors, the family just moved into the community six months ago. They described the two older children, who are studying at Discovery Elementary School, as appearing to be happy and healthy, until their mother got the butcher's knife and used it on them.