Why Would A Mother Kill Her Children?

Glynn County Apparent Murder-Suicide Prompts Question

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Video: Why Would a Mother Kill Her Children?

After Glynn County police said a mother killed her daughter and tried to kill her son before killing herself, it prompts the question: Why would a mother do something so senseless?"I don't think it's ever just one thing. It's a combination of things," psychologist Dr. Deborah Stokes said in a phone interview. Stokes said mental illness is complicated, and it's likely a combination of things that would cause a mother to snap at her children.Stokes said depression combined with genetic vulnerabilities, poor self-esteem, stress and hormonal shifts can cause women to do the unexplainable."They can become delusional and not even be aware of what they're doing," Stokes said.

After Glynn County police said a mother killed her daughter and tried to kill her son before killing herself, it prompts the question: Why would a mother do something so senseless?"I don't think it's ever just one thing. It's a combination of things," psychologist Dr. Deborah Stokes said in a phone interview.Stokes said mental illness is complicated, and it's likely a combination of things that would cause a mother to snap at her children.Stokes said depression combined with genetic vulnerabilities, poor self-esteem, stress and hormonal shifts can cause women to do the unexplainable."They can become delusional and not even be aware of what they're doing," Stokes said.