Mom accused of killing 2 kids showed signs of drug use

A Florida woman was arrested for shooting her two children to death, reportedly for being "mouthy"

By Tamara Lush - Mitch Stacy

Published January 31, 2011 5:16PM (EST)

In this Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 photo, a Tampa Police officer escorts Julie Powers Schenecker to Orient Road Jail on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 in Tampa, Fla. Police said Julie Powers Schenecker admitted to killing her teenage daughter and son after officers found her covered in blood on the back porch of her home Friday morning, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said. Schenecker's mother had called police from Texas because she was unable to reach the 50-year-old woman, whom she said was depressed and had been complaining about her children. (AP Photo/St. Petersburg Times, Bryan Thomas) TAMPA OUT; USA TODAY OUT; HERNANDO TODAY OUT; CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE OUT; NO MAGS; NO SALES (AP)
In this Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 photo, a Tampa Police officer escorts Julie Powers Schenecker to Orient Road Jail on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 in Tampa, Fla. Police said Julie Powers Schenecker admitted to killing her teenage daughter and son after officers found her covered in blood on the back porch of her home Friday morning, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said. Schenecker's mother had called police from Texas because she was unable to reach the 50-year-old woman, whom she said was depressed and had been complaining about her children. (AP Photo/St. Petersburg Times, Bryan Thomas) TAMPA OUT; USA TODAY OUT; HERNANDO TODAY OUT; CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE OUT; NO MAGS; NO SALES (AP)

Police say the Florida woman accused of killing her two teenagers showed signs of drug impairment after a November car crash.

A Florida Highway Patrol report released Monday said Julie Powers Schenecker had dilated pupils with no reaction to light and "mush-mouthed speech" after she hit a vehicle towing a trailer.

Officers didn't do a field sobriety test because she was taken to the hospital. When officers went to the hospital to obtain a blood sample, Schenecker had already checked out.

She was charged with careless driving.

Schenecker appeared in court Monday on two first-degree murder charges. She is accused of killing 16-year-old Calyx and 13-year-old Beau last Thursday. She was found Friday by police sitting on her back porch, covered in blood.

Police said she told detectives that she shot the children because they were "mouthy."


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