A Phoenix woman has been charged with killing her two young children.
According to reports Retta Cruse,35 is accused of drugging her daughters Aleyah McIntyre,9 and Royal McIntyre,4.
Authorities received a phone call from Michael Coleman, who was the youngest daughters father, when he got home from work and noticed the children unresponsive and Cruse critically injured.
Authorities arrived and found the children in their beds deceased from what appeared be a drug overdose.
They said no physical trauma was evident on the children.
They then found Cruse in the bedroom with multiple self inflicted stab wounds to her body.
She was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Throughout the investigation officers learned the children had been drugged with prescription oxycodone and over the counter medication.
Officers also found a handwritten letter explaining why she did what she did, but she later denied writing the letter.
According to court documents Cruse admitted to killing her oldest daughter and trying to take her own life to hospital staff.
When released from the hospital Cruse denied making any confessions.
It was said that she was upset about losing custody of her oldest daughter in a recent custody battle.
She was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder.
Her bond is set at $2 million.
