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| 'Exorcism' deaths: Mother Zakieya Avery stabbed children to death 'to remove the presence of the devil' | 'Exorcism' deaths: Mother Zakieya Avery stabbed children to death 'to remove the presence of the devil' |
| (25 days later) | |
| A Maryland mother accused of killing her two children told investigators that she thought an exorcism was necessary to remove the presence of the devil. | A Maryland mother accused of killing her two children told investigators that she thought an exorcism was necessary to remove the presence of the devil. |
| Zakieya Avery, 28, and her friend Monifa Sanford, 21, have been charged over the murder of one-year-old Norell Harris and two-year-old Zyana Harris after officials were called to a home in Germantown, Maryland, where both women were living. | Zakieya Avery, 28, and her friend Monifa Sanford, 21, have been charged over the murder of one-year-old Norell Harris and two-year-old Zyana Harris after officials were called to a home in Germantown, Maryland, where both women were living. |
| Avery's other children, Taniya Harris, five, and Martello Harris, eight, were also injured in the attack and remain in a stable condition in hospital. | Avery's other children, Taniya Harris, five, and Martello Harris, eight, were also injured in the attack and remain in a stable condition in hospital. |
| Captain Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County police department said in a press conference on Sunday that Avery told investigators that she thought an exorcism of her children was necessary to remove the presence of the devil and evil spirits. | Captain Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County police department said in a press conference on Sunday that Avery told investigators that she thought an exorcism of her children was necessary to remove the presence of the devil and evil spirits. |
| Captain Jones says police recovered two knives from the home after forcing their way into the property, where they found Norell and Zyana. Both had suffered multiple stab wounds. | Captain Jones says police recovered two knives from the home after forcing their way into the property, where they found Norell and Zyana. Both had suffered multiple stab wounds. |
| Sanford also allegedly made similar statements during questioning, police said. | Sanford also allegedly made similar statements during questioning, police said. |
| In 911 transcripts released by police, a neighbour alerted authorities after she saw a knife on the floor next to a car near the property. The car door was open and covered in blood, police said. The keys were still in the ignition. | In 911 transcripts released by police, a neighbour alerted authorities after she saw a knife on the floor next to a car near the property. The car door was open and covered in blood, police said. The keys were still in the ignition. |
| "I heard loud noises in the night," the caller said. | "I heard loud noises in the night," the caller said. |
| She added that she heard what sounded like "jumping" and "running" but didn't think anything of it because there were four children living in the home. | She added that she heard what sounded like "jumping" and "running" but didn't think anything of it because there were four children living in the home. |
| The women face charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Both were being held without bond. | The women face charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Both were being held without bond. |
| Additional reporting by Associated Press |