Wellesley’s Janette MacAusland during an arraignment hearing on Wednesday at Dedham District Court entered a not guilty plea in connection with first-degree murder charges of her two young children.
The 49-year-old MacAusland was ordered held without bail. Her next hearing, for probably cause, is set for July 13. The court recommended that the defendant be held at Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center in Chicopee.
MacAusland was arrested on April 24 in Vermont after showing up at a relative’s home in a distraught condition. Wellesley police discovered upon making a subsequent welfare check at the MacAuslands’ home that the two children, Kai (7) and Ella (6), were deceased.
Vermont police say MacAusland confessed to strangling her children to death. Court records show the offenses are believed to have taken place on April 22.
Janette MacAusland waived her right to extradition, agreeing to be returned to Massachusetts to face charges. The investigation into the deaths is being led by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office.
MacAusland had been in the middle of divorce and custody proceedings at Dedham District Court.
The Wellesley community has rallied over the past two weeks to honor the memory of the children and to support one another.
