The South Florida mother of 3-year-old twins who were found unresponsive inside a car on Interstate 95 is now facing manslaughter charges in their deaths.
Shirlene Alcime, 42, was rolled into a courtroom Friday in a wheelchair and wearing a green vest, where she was charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter. She has pleaded not guilty.
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It's been six months since the twins, Milendhet and Milendhere G. Napoleon-Cadet, were found unresponsive and foaming from their mouths on northbound I-95 near the Florida's Turnpike extension around 2 a.m. on Feb. 2.
Officers had responded to a call for a medical emergency. Alcime jumped off the overpass as first responders arrived at the scene.
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She survived and was initially charged with child neglect.
"The Medical Examiner has determined that the cause of death for the victims in this case is homicide, as such, the filing of formal murder charges is pending with the Miami Dade State Attorneys Office," Miami-Dade County Police said in early August.
Toxicology reports, however, were not able to determine why the twins were foaming, and for now authorities have not provided more information on how exactly they believe Alcime killed her children.
Currently, her charges accuse her of causing their deaths by failing to provide them with the care and supervision to maintain their health or by killing them by "unspecified means."
Footage obtained by NBC6 shows a Florida Highway Patrol trooper responding to the scene a short time later, after several Miami-Dade Police officers and fire rescue workers had already arrived. Alcime's silver Toyota Highlander can be seen on the side of the highway with its doors open as paramedics are seen running.
According to an arrest report, Alcime told investigators she'd been plotting to kill the two children and herself for the previous two months, "due to her current financial status and multiple debt(s) that she owes."
The arrest report said Alcime drove around with the twins throughout the day on Feb. 1, looking for a bridge to jump from before she finally decided on the I-95 overpass.
"The defendant admitted to contemplating jumping off the bridge with both victims or throwing them off one by one and then jumping to end their lives," the report said.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
