A South Carolina woman who drove her car with her kids inside in the ocean on Tuesday was charged with attempted murder and child abuse, the New York Daily News reported.
Ebony Wilkerson, 32, was arrested on Friday after she was released from the hospital, following her murder-suicide attempt in Daytona Beach.
According to Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, Wilkerson, who is seven months pregnant, was arrested after authorities held interviews with her children -- ages 10, 9, and 3 -- and multiple witnesses.
"She actually told them to close their eyes and go to sleep, 'I'm taking you to a better place,'" Johnson said. "The fact that she did intentionally try to kill the children...this is a tragic event."
Johnson said one of her kids tried to stop her.
"Her son was actually trying to fight her for the steering wheel," he added.
A group of lifeguards and witnesses ran towards the car and attempted a brave rescue of the woman and her children.
"The two in the backseat was crying with their arms out, saying, 'Our mommy's trying to kill us, please help,'" said Tim Tesseneer.
The frightening incident happened moments after Wilkerson's sister called 911. Right before she drove onto the beach, she had an alleged breakdown at her sister's home.
"She's talking about Jesus, that there's demons in the house," her sister told the operator, according to the call obtained by WESH-TV. "She's got the kids in the car with her."
Though police were able to track her down and pull her over, they eventually let her go because she showed no signs of hurting anyone.
Wilkerson is scheduled to make a court appearance on Saturday.
