New Orleans mother accused of stabbing her own children was in custody battle, records show
Court records show mother accused of stabbing toddlers was in custody battle
Court records show mother accused of stabbing toddlers was in custody battle
Court records show mother accused of stabbing toddlers was in custody battle
Court records show 31-year-old Janee Pedesclaux was in a custody battle with the father of her children when police say she stabbed her two toddlers on Sunday, leaving her 4-year-old daughter dead.
In the documents, it is revealed the father of the children had filed for weekend visitation in April. He described the environment Pedesclaux was providing for the children as unsafe and unstable. He also claimed she was under the influence of non-prescription pills.
“I would subsequently expect the defense to raise a not guilty by reason of insanity plea. Essentially what they would be saying is that at the time of the offense she was insane and not able to determine right and wrong," said attorney Laura Cannizarro-Rodrigue on what she expects to happen when the trial begins.
She says this has been successful in Orleans Parish before in the case of a woman who drowned her children in a bathtub.
It is unclear when a trial could begin, but Cannizarro-Rodrigue says that even if an insanity plea is successful Pedesclaux would not go free.
“If a jury finds a defendant not guilty by reason of insanity then they are not released, they are sent to a mental hospital where they are not just allowed to leave the facility. They are maintained in the facility to receive treatment. Then they will be evaluated on a regular basis to determine if at any time they can be restored back into society," said Cannizarro-Rodrigue.
The mediator in the custody battle spoke on the phone with WDSU and says Pedesclaux did not respond to his attempts to contact her.