CA Mom Arrested in Twin Toddler Murders

A Fairfield mother investigators say stabbed her twin 3-year-old daughters to death before attempting to take her own life and setting fire to her apartment has been arrested, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Firefighters found the children's bodies around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday inside their 28-year-old mother's apartment after responding to reports of a fire and extinguishing the blaze, Fairfield police Lt. Darrin Moody said.

"All evidence and everything we have done to this point, points to an attempted suicide by a mother and the homicide of two children," Moody said during a Wednesday news conference.

Monica McCarrick was arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of child abuse resulting in death and one count each of arson and destruction of evidence, police told the newspaper.

McCarrick was to be booked at Solano County Jail after being treated at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek for non life-threatening wounds, according to the paper.

Firefighters also found the mother inside the apartment with apparent self-inflicted stab wounds, Moody said. After being hospitalized she underwent surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition.

The names of her two daughters have not been released.

Neighbors who tried to get into the apartment during the fire found the windows and doors locked, Moody said.

He said the case is being investigated as a double murder and attempted suicide.

"We have no evidence that anyone else was involved," Moody said.

Assistant Fire Marshal Jerry Clark said investigators are still determining what caused the fire.

The mother had apparently relocated to Fairfield for a job, Moody said. Authorities were attempting to contact the children's father and other relatives.

The apartment suffered no major damage, and no other units in the complex were damaged, Clark said.