THREE UNNAMED SIBLINGS - 3, 9 and 10 yo/ Accused: Mother; Ebony Wilkerson - Daytona Beach FL

Ebony Wilkerson, South Carolina mom drove van with kids into ocean off Florida

Published: March 5, 2014 10:46 PM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A pregnant South Carolina woman who drove a minivan carrying her three young children into the ocean surf off Florida had talked about demons before leaving the house, according to her sister who worriedly called police, officials said during a news conference Wednesday.

After the call to dispatch Tuesday, Daytona Beach police officers stopped 31-year-old Ebony Wilkerson's black Honda Odyssey and she expressed fear that her husband would be coming to Florida to harm her and her children, said Police Chief Mike Chitwood.

"When we spoke with her she was lucid," Chitwood said. "The children were in the back seat, they were buckled in and were not in distress. Although the sergeant said she looked like she had some mental illness, she did not fit the criteria for going into custody under the Baker Act."

The Florida Mental Health Act, commonly known as the Baker Act, allows authorities to involuntarily take people into custody if they seem to be a threat to themselves.

Two hours after the police stop, Wilkerson drove into the ocean. Bystanders and officers helped pull her and her children — ages 3, 9 and 10 — from their minivan as it was almost submerged.

Ebony Wilkerson's sister told police she was concerned about her sister's mental state, Chitwood said.

"Her sister had called dispatch and told them that she (Wilkerson) had been talking about demons that day before she left the house," Chitwood said.

Chitwood said Wilkerson went to Halifax Health Medical Center on Monday to voluntarily check herself but then decided against it and walked out.

The children were turned over to welfare authorities. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Wilkerson was undergoing a mental evaluation. Sheriff Ben Johnson said it's too early to say whether Wilkerson will face criminal charges.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/ebony-wilkerson-south-carolina-mom-drove-van-with-kids-into-ocean-off-florida-1.7299750

Pregnant mom who drove kids into ocean charged with attempted murder


Ebony Wilkerson, 32, is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder after Volusia County deputies say she intentionally drove her minivan into the Atlantic Ocean and tried to kill her three children Tuesday, March 4, 2014.

Last Updated: Friday, March 07, 2014, 2:25 PM

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Volusia County Sheriff's Office has announced charges of attempted murder against a pregnant mother who drove her three children into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday.

Ebony Wilkerson, 32, was taken into deputy custody Friday on three counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of child abuse. Sheriff Ben Johnson said she is being booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail.

The Sheriff's Office posted on Twitter that it would announce its decision Friday afternoon:

   Volusia County Sheriff's Office to announce charging decision at 1 p.m. today regarding woman who drove van with children into the ocean.
   — VCSO PIO (@VolusiaSheriff) March 7, 2014

"Ebony Wilkerson acted with premeditated design to kill her three children," the Sheriff's Office said in the charging affidavit.

Investigators said the 32-year-old mother was 27 weeks pregnant when she drove her 2012 Honda Odyssey into the rough surf at Daytona Beach. Deputies said she locked the doors, put up the windows and told her three frightened children to close their eyes on go to sleep, ignoring their pleas for help and insisting she was taking them all to "a safer place."

Wilkerson was arrested Friday morning at Halifax Health Medical Center, where she had been taken Tuesday for a mental health evaluation. Sheriff Johnson said Wilkerson was being booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail without bond.

Moments before Wilkerson drove into the ocean, her sister called 911 requesting a well-being check. The sister and a friend asked the dispatcher to send police to stop Wilkerson from leaving.

   Caller's friend: She was just released from the hospital.

   Mom's sister: And she's pregnant.

   Friend: And they put her on medication to make her drowsy.

   911 dispatcher: OK, has she left?

   Sister: Yeah, she's gone.

Wilkerson took off when her children, a 3-year-old girl, a 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, in the van.

A Daytona Beach police officer pulled her over, but ended up letting her go. The officer reported while it was clear she was suffering from some form of mental illness, the traffic stop "did not provide any signs that she met Baker Act requirements."

Under the Baker Act, the officer could have detained the woman on a psychiatric hold, but Sheriff Johnson said there were no grounds to Baker-Act Wilkerson based on the officer's report.

Moments later, a lifeguard spotted the van driving erratically on the beach before the woman turned sharply toward the ocean, plowing into the water. Deputies said Wilkerson then got out of the van, leaving her children inside.

Lifeguards and several beachgoers jumped into action, rescuing the three children as rough waves rocked and nearly submerged the minivan. The kids were carried safely to shore before being taken to Halifax Health.

While at the hospital, deputies said the children told them, "Mom tried to kill us." The 10-year-old girl told Volusia County Beach Safety officers that their mother took them to the beach "so we could die."

Deputies said at one point, the 10-year-old grabbed the steering wheel of the van in attempt to steer it away from the water, but was unsuccessful. A witness reported seeing a child on Wilkerson's lap and the two fighting for control of the steering wheel.

One of the children pushed the power button to lower the windows, and the children started screaming for help, saying their mother was trying to kill them. Their yelling got the attention of the bystanders who ran to save them.

One witness said beach safety officers had to fend off Wilkerson, who tried to stop them from entering the van.

Investigators said a family member told them that Wilkerson was in an abusive relationship, and she came to Florida with her children to escape her husband. The relative added Wilkerson had no prior history of mental illness.

http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/3/7/fl_van_into_ocean.html

Pregnant mom who drove van of kids into ocean accused of punching self in stomach

Posted: 1:35 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A pregnant mother accused of trying to kill her three children by driving her minivan into the ocean in Daytona Beach earlier this month is accused of punching herself in the stomach while jailed, Channel 9 has learned.

The details came out Monday during a bond hearing for Ebony Wilkerson, 32, who is charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse and being held on $1.2 million bond.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said Wilkerson was sent to Halifax Hospital's psychiatric ward a second time for a psychiatric evaluation after she punched herself in the stomach while jailed.

"That was the reason why she was Baker Acted and brought back to the facility," said State Attorney R.J. Larizza.

In court, Wilkerson's attorney requested her client be kept in the psychiatric ward, and a doctor who testified said he believes Wilkerson "can be helped," but the judge did not rule on the request.

The hearing has been continued until March 25.

An OB/GYN testified Monday that Wilkerson is 28 weeks pregnant and that she should be going to weekly checkups. The OB/GYN testified that Wilkerson's pregnancy is not low-risk, which requires her to be seen more regularly than someone with a normal pregnancy.

That doctor also suggested Wilkerson be held at Halifax Hospital for regular treatment during her pregnancy.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Wilkerson allegedly punched herself in the stomach, which resulted in her being sent to a psychiatric hospital as a result of the Baker Act.

The state has since said Wilkerson must be in the sight of corrections officers at all times.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/mom-court-bond-hearing-after-driving-van-full-kids/nfFNR/

Bond Hearing 3/17/2014



http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/mom-court-bond-hearing-after-driving-van-full-kids/nfFNR/

SC woman set to argue for smaller bond after driving car with children into ocean

Posted: Mar 25, 2014 5:32 AM CST
Updated: Mar 25, 2014 5:40 AM CST
By Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Attorneys for a South Carolina woman accused of driving her car into the ocean with her three children on board are set to argue for a smaller bond, saying she needs psychiatric care that she can't get in jail.

The hearing on 32-year-old Ebony Wilkerson's bond is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Daytona Beach. It is a continuation of a hearing that began last week. Judge Leah Case decided she wanted to hear more testimony before making a decision.

Wilkerson remains in custody on a $1.2 million bond on six felony charges, including attempted murder.

Her public defenders had asked the judge to allow her to stay at a hospital mental-health unit so she can get psychiatric care. But the judge denied the request.

http://www.counton2.com/story/25063943/sc-woman-set-to-argue-for-smaller-bond-after-driving-car-with-children-into-ocean

North Charleston mother accused of driving van carrying children into ocean gives birth

Associated Press
Posted: Thursday, May 22, 2014 7:51 a.m.
Updated: Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:43 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- A South Carolina woman who drove her minivan into the Atlantic Ocean with her three children inside has given birth at a Florida hospital.

A spokesman for the Florida Department of Children and Families told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that the newborn is with family members. There was no word about the baby's gender or when the birth occurred.

In March, 32-year-old Ebony Wilkerson of North Charleston, South Carolina, drove her van into the surf off Daytona Beach. She was arrested a few days later and remains in custody on $1.2 million bail. She faces three counts each of attempted second-degree murder and child abuse.

An attorney representing the children's father says Lutful Ronjon doesn't have the children.

Wilkerson's attorneys have filed notice they may seek an insanity defense.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140522/PC16/140529796/1177/north-charleston-mother-accused-of-driving-van-carrying-children-into-ocean-gave-birth

Lawyers For Mom Accused Of Driving Kids Into Ocean Blame Low Blood Sugar

Posted:  09/04/2014 8:14 am EDT    Updated:  09/04/2014 8:59 am EDT


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A motion filed by an attorney representing a South Carolina woman accused of trying to kill her three children by driving them into the Atlantic Ocean in a minivan says she was severely disoriented due to low blood sugar at the time.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://bit.ly/1o08Abo ) reports Ebony Wilkerson's blood sugar level was measured at 44 by paramedics called to the beach March 4. Assistant Public Defender Craig Dyer says a normal range would be from 70 to 100.

Records related to Wilkerson's blood sugar are expected to be discussed during a hearing Friday. The judge will also consider whether Wilkerson violated terms of her pretrial release by testing positive for alcohol in an Aug. 6 urinalysis.

The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, woman is charged with three counts each of attempted murder and child abuse.


___
Information from: Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal, http://www.news-journalonline.com




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/04/mom-drove-kids-ocean-low-blood-sugar_n_5764762.html

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Mom who drove kids into ocean not guilty by reason of insanity


Ebony Wilkerson walks past members of the media, Friday December 12, 2014 after being found not guilty due to insanity after driving her van full of children into the ocean of Daytona Beach.
News-Journal/David Tucker


By Frank Fernandez

Published: Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11:26 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11:58 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — Ebony Wilkerson was found not guilty by reason of insanity Friday to three counts of felony child abuse and prosecutors dropped three counts of attempted second-degree murder against the mother who gained international attention when she drove her minivan with her three children into the ocean off Daytona Beach.

Wilkerson, 33, on Friday waived her right to a jury trial on the child abuse charges and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to them. Circuit Judge Leah Case then ruled that Wilkerson was not guilty by reason of insanity.

“All of the experts agree I’ve read them all that Ms. Wilkerson was suffering from a mental illness and did not know right from wrong at the time of this offense. I do find Ms. Wilkerson that you are not guilty by reason of insanity.”

Next, Wilkerson will appear at a hearing Tuesday where the judge will decide whether she should be committed to a state hospital or released into the community under the supervision of mental health experts.

Wilkerson sat upright at the defense table on Friday while her attorneys and prosecutors had a long sidebar with Judge Case. Wilkerson held her head high and clasped her hands patiently until the judge asked that she stand up to be sworn in.

Wilkerson told the judge that she was taking the anti-depressant Lexapro and that it did not impede her understanding of the proceedings.

“So you are feeling good today,” Case said.

“Yes, I am,” Wilkerson said.

“And you are thinking clearly?” Case said
“Yes,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson told the judge that she was waiving her right to a jury trial of her own free will and entering the not guilty plea.

Case asked if she had any questions about waiving her right to a jury trial.

“No, I don’t,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson was pregnant and driving the family van on March 4 with her three children on board — ages 10, 9 and 3 at the time — when she drove into the rough surf off Daytona Beach, according to reports. A video of rescuers pulling the children to safety as the van is rocked by the waves gained international attention.

The hearing on Friday opened with Assistant Public Defenders Craig Dyer and Julie Morris and Assistant State Attorneys Kevin Sullivan and John Reid having a long sidebar discussion with Case about issues involving Wilkerson’s children.

Dyer said last week that the goal is to have the dependency court take over issues of Wilkerson’s contact with her children.

Wilkerson has been unable to see the children since March 4. Judge Case barred Wilkerson during a May 29 hearing from having any contact with her children, but on Oct. 31 ruled Wilkerson could send them preprinted cards, which would first be reviewed by the children’s therapists.

Wilkerson is out of jail on $90,000 bail.

“Obviously, she’s been out on bond and she hasn’t had any psychotic events and everything is going fine since her pregnancy’s been over,” Dyer said.

Dyer said it’s unknown what led to Wilkerson’s breakdown.

“We are not exactly sure what caused it,” he said. “Everybody is certain that it existed, because her family has some past with mental illness. We know that there are stressors that force a person who is subject to it to have an episode.”

The three children are in the custody of the Department of Children & Families, Dyer said after Tuesday’s hearing.

Wilkerson also gave birth to a boy who is with her husband, Lutful Ronjon, in South Carolina, after her arrest.

Experts for both the defense and prosecutors have said that Wilkerson was insane at the time she drove her van into the ocean.

Dyer said afterward that the situation was very unusual.

“I’ve been doing this 37 years this is my first time,” Dyer said.



http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20141212/news/141219800?p=2&tc=pg&tc=ar

She should have the decency not to show her Cheshire Cat smile after what she got away with.

Why do people like this POS continue to breed?

Her poor children, the state will probably return them to her.