Only a public defender showed up at the first court hearing on Sunday in the three counts that 33-year-old Jessica McCarty faces for the injury and death of her three children.

McCarty, who was found by police holding a bloodied butcher's knife when they responded to a 911 call on Friday night in Palm Bay, Florida, waived her right to attend the first hearing, reports Spacecoastdaily.com.

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The court has ordered her held without bail and she is under medical watch at the Brevard County Jail. WFTV reports that she has been placed on a suicide watch. Before the police arrived at her house, she slashed her wrist, which explains why she has bandages on her wrist and is wearing a suicide prevention vest.

The Brevard County medical examiner, meanwhile, conducted autopsies on how her two older children, seven-year-old Laci McCarty and six-year-old Philip McCarty died.

The youngest, five-month-old Christopher Swist, remains in critical condition at a Florida hospital.

Even if the autopsy has been performed, police say they don't know yet how the two were killed, except that they were not stabbed, sliced or shot.

Records said that in 2009, the Department of Children and Families had investigated McCarty for possible child neglect. She has also been referred for mental health counselling.

McCarty also has previous arrest records for forgery, shoplifting and prescription drug abuse.

Neighbors, meanwhile, collected flowers and stuffed toys as a memorial for the family.

One neighbor, Chris Knapps, said it is very unnerving to learn that something tragic had befallen the young family that moved in their quiet community only six months ago.

Another neighbor, Kathleen Cano, said she could not fathom how a mother could do what Jessica did to her children.

TagsMurder, butcher's knife, Palm Bay, Jessica McCarty