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Virginia Beach mother accused of poisoning children appears in court

Posted at 3:02 PM, Jan 14, 2014
and last updated 2014-01-14 18:27:04-05

Virginia Beach, Va. (WTKR) - A mother accused of trying to poison her kids by putting prescription drugs in their food was in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.  After hearing testimony, a judge certified Lorita Aiken's case to the circuit court.

During the hearing, Det. Timothy Jones testified about what he found when he was called to her house on Nov. 22, 2013.

Jones said he found numerous prescription pill bottles, white powder on food, and a message reading "you'll never hurt me or my children again."

Jones said the message was displayed on a computer screen and was animated to make it look like it was dripping blood.  The message was also posted over photographs going up the stairway and in the master bedroom, according to the detective.

The pill bottles, most prescribed to Aiken, were found throughout the house.

The Virginia Beach mom was arrested in late November, charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and altering food, drink, drugs, etc.

Police say she put prescription drugs in food and fed it to her two kids, ages 4 and 5.  Her husband later found Aiken and the kids unconcious in their home on Richard Road, according to police.

They were taken to the hospital and later released.

While interviewing her, the detective says Aiken told him she tried to kill herself and her two kids because she had mental problems and didn't want to be a burden to her husband or have her mental illness passed on.

The detective was the only witness called during court Tuesday.

After hearing from him, the judge said there was probable cause and certified the case to the circuit court.  Aiken will be back in court on March 26.

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