Tucson mother murders children

Posted: Aug 13, 2012 3:06 PM by NBC News
Updated: Aug 13, 2012 3:06 PM

A Tucson mother is in jail, accused of shooting and killing her own two children.

Investigators said 17-month-old Richard Rosovich, Jr. died at the Southside home.

His 4-year-old sister Emma Rosovich died on her way to the hospital Saturday night.

Police said Perla Morales also tried to harm herself.

She made her court appearance Sunday morning.

Perla and her boyfriend, the father or Richard, Jr. shared the home with the two children, but according to family, Perla's boyfriend was not there when it happened and hasn't stepped back in the home since.

He has been warned that inside the home was a bloody mess.

A blue tricycle and pink bike stand out as the last visible remnants of the 17-month-old and 4-year-old.

Their mother has been charged with two counts of murder in the first degree and two counts of child abuse.

The judge set her bond to one million dollars.

In her initial appearance, she sat emotionless.

No one from either Perla or her boyfriend's family was at court to see her appearance.

We reached out to Perla's family. Her sister tells us they are still in shock and can't believe what's happened.

Police said the shooting happened inside the home around seven Saturday night.

When police arrived, they found the two children suffering from gunshot wounds and Perla also suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.

Neighbors would not go on camera, but said they saw police arrive, draw their guns before entering.

When paramedics arrived, the 4-year-old was loaded into the ambulance and Perla who both appeared to be unconscious, at least from what the neighbors could see.

Police tell us the baby was pronounced dead at the scene and the 4-year-old died in the hospital.

We reached out to the paternal family.

They tell us all they know is that Perla and the baby's father got into an argument, he left home, and that's when the incident happened.

They said the baby's father is inconsolable, and the family wants their privacy to grieve at this time.

We also reached out to the 4-year-old's biological father but still haven't heard back from him.