Virginia Beach, Va. - The woman accused of putting prescription pills into her children's food was found not guilty by reason of insanity on Thursday.
Lorita Aiken was charged with two counts of attempted murder and tampering with food and drink in November of 2013 after police say she used prescription drugs to try to poison her two children.
During previous court hearings, Detective Timothy Jones testified about what he found when he was called to her house.
Jones said he found numerous prescription pill bottles, white powder on food. He also testified that Aiken wrote a note on the computer. It read "you'll never hurt me or my children again" and was made to look like it was dripping blood.
Aiken told prosecutors that she had a history with depression and had been seeing a general doctor every six months or so for the last couple of years. Ativan, Celexa, Wellbutrin and Ambien are just a few of the medications Aiken told the court she’s been prescribed.
Aiken also reportedly told Detective Jones that 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.
Following the non-guilty by insanity verdict, Aiken will now spend 45 days in a state mental health facility. They will decide whether she should stay there, be released with conditions or be released without conditions.
Updates will be provided as they become available.
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