By Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First

A Wellesley, Mass. mother, who is charged with killing her young daughter and son, was highly distraught when she arrived at a relative’s home in Bennington on Friday night, Bennington Police said Sunday.

The Bennington Police investigation led to Janette R. MacAusland, 49, being charged in Norfolk County, Mass. on Saturday with two counts of homicide for the deaths of Kai, 7, and Ella MacAusland, 6, in their home.

Bennington Police said they were contacted about 9:15 Friday night by a local resident and responding officers became concerned about the wellbeing of MacAusland’s two children in Massachusetts.

Wellesley, Mass. Police were contacted and asked to check on the two children at a residence at 63 Edgemoor Avenue, Bennington Police said. It is an affluent suburb about 15 miles from Boston.

The two children were found dead inside the residence, police said. 

Bennington Police Department subsequently began further assisting Massachusetts law enforcement authorities in their investigation into the two deaths.

Besides speaking with MacAusland, Bennington Police also reportedly obtained search warrants as part of the homicide investigation to help the Wellesley Police. The office of Bennington County State’s Attorney Erica Marthage also is assisting.

The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office announced an arrest warrant for MacAusland had been obtained a few hours after Vermont News First had initially reported Bennington Police had jailed the mother as a fugitive from justice for two counts of homicide in Wellesley, Mass.

MacAusland had a major neck wound and was bleeding when officers had initial contact, Bennington Police said.

Town Police were assisted by the Bennington Rescue Squad, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, and United Counseling Service.

Vermont News First has been told by a local resident that MacAusland was raised in the Arlington area.

Bennington Police did not identify the relative that she stopped to visit or the relationship. Bennington officers tried to converse with the woman, but it was difficult.

“Upon making contact, the woman was identified as Janette R. MacAusland. Officers attempted to engage her in conversation and, during the interaction, became increasingly concerned for the welfare of her children,” Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette said in a news release Sunday.

MacAusland’s resume indicates she has worked at New England Integrated Health as an associate acupuncturist since July 2021.  She is listed also as the Director of Clinical Education since August 2023.  While her name and photograph were on the NEIH website early in the weekend, they appeared to have been removed by Sunday afternoon.

News accounts in Massachusetts indicate that MacAusland and her estranged husband, Samuel MacAusland, have been going through contested divorce proceedings that began when he filed in October after nine years of marriage, according to Norfolk County probate court records.

Janette MacAusland countersued seeking custody of the two children and home. A joint motion was filed April 16 to continue/reschedule a pre-trial conference until early May, as the parents were disputing custody of the children. They wanted a neutral third party to investigate and make recommendations about custody, and a guardian ad litem was appointed on April 21, records show.

Janette MacAusland is jailed without bail at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland. Her scheduled court arraignment on the fugitive charge Monday has been moved from Bennington to Rutland.

She could agree in court to return voluntarily to Massachusetts, or she could contest her removal.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s Office said in a news release over the weekend that Massachusetts State Police and Wellesley Police Department are working closely with the Vermont State Police to ultimately have the defendant transported to Massachusetts to answer to the murder charges.

However Vermont State Police said Sunday their department is not involved in the case and it was Bennington Police responsible for the investigation and homicide charges.

Wellesley Public School (WPS) Superintendent David Lussier issued a statement over the weekend to the community and media.

“We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of two of our WPS students, a second-grader and kindergartener at Schofield Elementary School. This is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield but across our entire community. Our crisis team is planning support for students, staff, and families as we prepare for the reopening of school on Monday. I ask that we all keep this family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”