Chardonnay Marie Benavidez, Keizer, Oregon mom arrested trying to kill her 3 kids & self by carbon monoxide poisoning. Shared social media posts alluded to a cry for help by the single mom.
A 32-year-old Keizer, Oregon woman faces three counts of attempted murder and other charges after attempting to kill her three children and herself only to change her mind at the last moment.
Chardonnay Marie Benavidez according to officials told her young kids they could have a ‘fun sleepover’ in the car out in the garage. After they all entered, she attempted to kill everyone, including herself, by carbon monoxide poisoning.
At some point, she changed her mind.
Single Keizer, Oregon mom tries to kill her own kids
The Keizer Police Department according to the Statesman Journal said the parent called 911 around 8:30 p.m. on June 6 to report her children were falling in and out of consciousness after attempting to kill them and herself with carbon monoxide.
Police said officers found Benavidez, her twin 2-year-old boys and 4-year-old son in the living room of their home located on Holly Court NE in Keizer.
The Keizer Fire District assisted police by venting an attached garage, which ‘was too dangerous’ because of the amount of carbon monoxide remaining in the enclosed area, police said. Police said they found a vehicle in the garage with a makeshift apparatus running from the exhaust pipe into the car’s interior.
Following her arrest, Benavidez was with three counts of attempted murder in the first degree and three counts of assault in the first degree.
Social media cries for help
During her arraignment, the state requested that Benavidez be held without bail, which Marion County Circuit Judge Drew Taylor granted.
A Marion County prosecutor said Benavidez told police she had researched and planned ways to commit the crime for a week, considering ‘multiple options.’ Benavidez, the prosecution said, presented it to the children as a fun ‘sleepover‘ in the car.
The prosecutor also claimed Benavidez had a firearm in the vehicle, which she told police she planned to use in case the carbon monoxide killed the children but failed to kill her.
Not immediately clear is what prompted the mother seeking to end her children and her own life, along with the whereabout of the children’s father?
A regard of Benavidez’s social media account intimated what many on social media decried as a ‘cry for help.’
Posted the mom on May 9, ‘wishing I had my mo, a sister, aunt or anyone really to go to breakfast tomorrow somewhere with my boys.’
Stated a post in part that the mom reshared on her FB wall, ‘Men be like I knowI’ve ignored your needs to long yo don’t even desire me anymore along with ‘making me feel invisible all day.’
Social media responds to single mom crises
And then there were these comments on social media that caught this author’s attention. See what you think?
‘She was a veteran and probably going through post-partum I think people forget how easy it is to slip through the cracks if you don’t have a good support system. I hope she finds the help she needs, and they don’t just throw the book on her in there.’
‘Very, very sad case. She was a single mom, a veteran, potentially dealing with PPD, and it sounds like she was alone by the post she made about wishing she had a mother/sister/aunt to spend time with her and her kids. Thank God her kids are okay! This is honestly heartbreaking and I hope she gets the help she needs.’
