A Tennessee mother, Jessica Chandler, has been charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in connection with the deaths of her two young children.
Authorities say Chandler, 31, smothered her 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son with a Lilo & Stitch blanket in October 2024.
According to Washington County, Tennessee, court records, Chandler’s children were found unresponsive by their father on October 29, 2024, when he arrived at Chandler’s home. Investigators later testified that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
At a preliminary court hearing on January 7, 2025, Johnson County Criminal Investigator Michael Fowler revealed that Chandler used the Lilo & Stitch blanket to suffocate her daughter, Vista, while she was in bed. Authorities had initially suspected poisoning before the autopsy confirmed the suffocation.
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In a chilling discovery, police also found handwritten notes in Chandler’s home, which allegedly outlined her reasons for the killings and her intention to die by suicide.
According to Fowler, the notes detailed Chandler’s belief that she was unable to protect her children, among other reasons for the tragedy.
The case has stunned the community, and Chandler’s court appearance on January 7 did not clarify whether she has entered any pleas. She faces serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
As investigations continue, the heartbreaking case has raised awareness about child abuse and its devastating consequences.
