Maryland police arrested and charged two women who believed they were performing an exorcism for the deaths of two children who were stabbed to death, according to the Associated Press.
Monifa Denise Sanford, 21, and Zakieya Latrice Avery, 28, were both charged by the Montgomery County Police with murder for the deaths of Avery's children, the AP reported. The children were identified as 1-year-old Norell Harris and 2-year-old Zyana Harris.
The two women are also to face attempted murder charges for injuring Avery's other children, ages 5 and 8, according to the AP.
A neighbor called the police on Friday after seeing a knife outside a vehicle that had been left with the door open, the AP reported.
When police arrived on the scene, Avery was arrested trying to flee from a townhouse near the parked vehicle and the two children were found dead inside, according to the AP.
Sanford was taken to the hospital along with the other children and treated for her injuries. Police arrested her after she was released, the AP reported.
The surviving children were identified as 5-year-old Taniya Harris and 8-year-old Martello Harris and they remained hospitalized on Saturday.
Montgomery police say Avery and Sanford will face two counts of first degree murder and two count of attempted first degree murder and were being held without bond, according to the AP.
