Custody trial resumes for Mitchelle Blair, Detroit mother accused of killing, freezing 2 children
35-year-old woman faces murder, torture and child abuse charges after eviction led to discovery
A custody hearing continues today for a Detroit mother accused of killing two of her children and storing their bodies in a freezer. The hearing will determine her parental rights for her surviving children.
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- $1M US bond set for Detroit mother of 2 kids found dead in freezer
The custody trial, which began on Thursday, is to decide whether Blair, 35, should continue to have parental rights over her surviving eight-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter. The hearing is also expected to decide on the rights for the two fathers of those children.
Outraged by the testimony, Mitchelle Blair yelled during separate outbursts on Thursday that she killed her kids.
There was only one minor outburst from Blair in court on Friday, WDIV-TV Detroit reported on Twitter.
Berry says when he was working he used $ to buy sons toys for Christmas. Mitchelle Blair lets out a quick, "Pshh." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Local4?src=hash">#Local4</a>
—@JasonColthorpBlair was arrested March 24 after court deputies, carrying out an eviction at her apartment, found the bodies of Stoni Blair, 13, and nine-year-old Stephen Berry in a deep freezer. Police believe they died months apart in 2012 and 2013.
Blair is charged with murder, torture and child abuse. She is to undergo a mental competency exam before a June 19 probable cause hearing in the murder cases.
As a videotape played Thursday in court showing Blair's surviving son telling a social worker that he saw his brother killed, Blair yelled that he "didn't see me kill Stephen, 'cause it was unintentional."
On another occasion Blair yelled: "Everybody wants to know. Yes, I did kill her," referencing her daughter Stoni.
Blair's surviving son also said in the interview with the social worker that he was whipped with a cord and that his 17-year-old sister was hit with a hammer. Both surviving siblings have been placed in a relative's care.
The trial in Wayne County Circuit Court will determine if Blair loses custody of the two children. The state also wants to end the parental rights of their fathers. The state says the fathers rarely see the kids and owe thousands of dollars in child support.
With files from CBC News