Mother Fatally Stabs 3 Children And Injures Another While House Is On Fire

Rockmart, Georgia -- A woman allegedly went around stabbing her children while the family’s house was on fire. Three of her seven children were killed during the incident in Georgia.

Darlene Brister, 40, was arrested after Paulding County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded Friday night to a call about a domestic disturbance and house fire. The 911 caller said a woman inside the house in Rockmart was going around stabbing the occupants, 11Alive reported.

Responding officers arrived to find seven children, some of whom had jumped out of a second-story window in an attempt to escape, according to neighbors.

The sheriff’s office said two children, a five-month-old and a three-year-old suffered multiple stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Three other children, aged five, nine and 11, were transported to the hospital with injuries. The 5-year-old child succumbed to the injuries while the 9-year-old remains in critical condition.

Two teenagers in the house, 14 and 16, did not sustain any injuries.

Brister was arrested at the scene.

Neighbors expressed shock after hearing about the children's deaths.

“Three lives are gone,” neighbor Edward Swinger, told WSB-TV.

Springer, who lives across the street from the family, said Brister had lived for two years in the area with no problems. “She doesn’t talk to anyone,” said Swinger added.

“We would see them but we wouldn’t communicate with them,” another neighbor, Willie Hayes, said.

Hayes spoke to the outlet about the horrific scene Friday as responding officers put out the fire and rushed the injured children to the hospital.

“I walked out the door and could see the fire in the house,” Hayes said. “They bring the kids out dead and she is still hiding in the house. It’s pitiful.”

Neighbors said they knew about on-going domestic issues at the house but did not think it would end with three children tragically losing their lives.

“It’s so sad,” said Hayes. “Why would someone do that to their children?”

The incident is being investigated, and officials are also working to find out what caused the fire.

“Brister was subsequently transported to the Paulding County Detention Center where she is currently charged with two counts of Malice Murder…” the sheriff’s office said on Facebook.

The mother is being held with no bond and is likely to face additional charges.