A mother in Albion, Michigan, faces serious charges after allegedly attempting to murder her children, with police intervening in a harrowing scene of attempted drowning and stabbing.

Jessica Edward-Ricks, the mother in question, now faces six felony charges, two of which could lead to life imprisonment if she is found guilty. The charges include assault with intent to commit murder and child abuse of the first and second degree.

Edward-Ricks pleaded not guilty to all charges through her public defender. Her bond was set at $500,000. The shocking events that led to these charges unfolded over a weekend, beginning with a distress call from a 15-year-old.

Disturbing Discovery by Police

WZZM13.com reports that on that fateful Saturday morning, the teenager dialed 911, leading the police to their home. Upon arrival, the officers heard children screaming and pleading for help. The source of these cries was a chilling scene that unfolded in the family's bathroom.

Body camera footage from the responding officers shows them kicking down the bathroom door, where they found Edward-Ricks holding her two-year-old daughter underwater in the bathtub. The officers swiftly pulled the child out of the tub and began life-saving measures.

Once the child was in the living room, the officers performed CPR and patted her on the back until she coughed up water and started breathing on her own. But the horror didn't end there. The two-year-old girl had two stab wounds on her chest and throat, and a four-year-old boy also had cuts. The police also suspect that the children ingested cleaning fluid.

Children's Condition and Mother's Arrest

Two other children, an eight-year-old and the 15-year-old who made the distress call, were also present in the home but appeared to be unharmed. The mother was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for treatment, as authorities believed she too had ingested cleaning fluid.

The younger children were initially taken to a hospital in Jackson, then transferred to Ann Arbor. They were expected to be released from the hospital on the following Monday.

Neighbors identified the mother as Jessica Deirdre Edward-Ricks. She is facing charges of assault, two counts of assault with intent to murder, and four counts of neglect. The police chief announced that the woman was expected to be arraigned on the following Tuesday afternoon.

Commendation for Responding Officers

Albion's Police Chief praised the responding officers for their swift action and life-saving measures. He noted that the officers had recently completed mental health training to handle situations like these.

Such training undoubtedly played a crucial role in the officers' ability to respond effectively to the traumatic scene they encountered. Their quick thinking and decisive action likely saved the lives of the young children involved.

You can watch the video of the police arriving at the scene and saving the child here. Viewer discretion is advised.

"The officers had just completed mental health training to handle situations like these."

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mental health training for law enforcement officers. The Albion Police Department's recent training likely played a significant role in the successful rescue of the children.

• Jessica Edward-Ricks faces six felony charges, including assault with intent to commit murder and child abuse.
• The police were alerted to the situation by a distress call from a 15-year-old.
• Officers found Edward-Ricks attempting to drown her two-year-old daughter in the bathtub. The child also had stab wounds.
• A four-year-old boy was also found with cuts, and both young children are believed to have ingested cleaning fluid.
• The mother was taken into custody and is expected to be arraigned.
• The responding officers were commended for their actions, with their recent mental health training highlighted.

Please share this article on Twitter and Facebook to raise awareness about the importance of mental health training for law enforcement officers.