‘Full of life and laughter’: Wellesley mom accused in children’s deaths was in custody battle

New details. A wealthy mother accused of killing her two Children was pursuing custody of them and their home. That's according to court records. Jeanette McAusland is being held in Vermont. She's due in court in the morning. Investigators tell us the kids were found dead inside of a home on Edgemore Avenue Friday night. A former babysitter who shared this picture with us says they were full of life and laughter. Boston 25 News reporter Alyssa Azara spoke to those who lived near the family now left in shock. I'm just shocked. I'm still like trying to process everything that's happened. Wellesley neighborhood left heartbroken. Yeah, they're very lovely and active kids. Yeah, very cute. So it's it's really, really hard to believe they are not anymore. So residents stunned to hear that two Children ages six and seven were found dead inside of a home on quiet Edgemore Avenue Friday night. The Norfolk District Attorney's office says their mother, 49 year old Jeanette McAusland is accused of killing them. I thought they had pretty good, you know, family, right? Because I never have a chance to talk with the kids. Mommy. Yeah, normally I talk with their dad on the street. Neighbors say the two Children who were in kindergarten and second grade at Schofield Elementary in Wellesley were seen playing outside often and brought joy to the area. They played a lot in the neighborhood. I mean, it seemed lovely. They always smiled. The parents always smiled. We watched them, you know, get a little older. They were riding their bikes. Very surprising to hear. None of this seems consistent with what we've seen. Those who live nearby described seeing who they assume is the father more often than the mother, but say nothing seemed out of the normal. They were. They're nice people. Yeah. Um, never aggressive or like anything. Um, they're always kind, always cheerful. The superintendent of Wellesley Public Schools calling the incident devastating, saying in part in a statement quote, this is an unimaginable loss that will be deeply felt not just at Schofield, but across our entire community. Counselors will be available for staff and students on monday. Meanwhile, the Norfolk D. A. S. Office says McAusland will appear in a Vermont courtroom monday on a fugitive from justice charge in Wellesley, Alyssa Azar for your local station, boston 25 News.