Acupuncturist Mom Accused of Killing Her Kids Faces Cold Reception at Funeral

A Tragic Loss in an Affluent Boston Suburb

In a heart-wrenching incident that has left a community in shock, a mother from Massachusetts allegedly killed her two young children at their home in an affluent Boston suburb. The tragic event unfolded on April 24, when Kai and Ella MacAusland, aged seven and six, were found dead at their $1.5 million home in Wellesley. According to police reports, the children were strangled by their mother, Janette MacAusland, 49, who then drove to her aunt's home in Bennington, Vermont, where she was arrested and confessed to taking their lives.

Janette, an acupuncturist, had been going through a bitter divorce with her husband, Sam MacAusland, 62, at the time of the incident. She has since been charged with two counts of murder and has pleaded not guilty. Despite the gravity of the situation, Janette was not mentioned during the funeral service for her children, which took place at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Wellesley.

A Heartfelt Farewell

On Saturday afternoon, family and friends gathered at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church to say their final goodbyes to Kai and Ella. Attendees included neighbors, family friends, and their father, Sam, who stood in front of the small caskets, sharing bittersweet memories of the beloved siblings. While some speakers alluded to the extreme circumstances surrounding the deaths, Janette was never brought up during the service.

Sam, who was present at the funeral, shared heartfelt stories about his children, highlighting their love for each other and their favorite activities, such as dancing, swimming, and drawing rainbows and hearts. He also recited a song written by his daughter, titled "Rainbow Colors," which he shared with the congregation.

Another neighbor, who lived across the street from the MacAuslands, expressed her sorrow, stating, "Our street is too quiet now. Our lives feel duller. We miss you, and you will live on in our hearts."

The Mother's Confession

Following her arrest, Janette was seen with a visible bloody neck injury in her mugshot. During her interrogation, she told an officer with the Bennington Police Department, "I strangled them and then I tried to kill myself." She added, "I wanted the three of us to go to God together, but it didn't work," according to the police report.

After hearing her chilling confession, authorities in Vermont immediately notified police in Massachusetts, who conducted a welfare check on the couple's home. There, they discovered the deceased children. At the time, Sam was in New Hampshire and was alerted by a neighbor that police were at his home, according to dispatch records obtained by The Globe.

A Distressed Father

Sam desperately called 911 for answers, with a dispatcher telling the police commander at the scene, "The father is on the phone now... (He's) uncontrollable. He really needs to know what's going on," the dispatcher said. The commander then tried to connect Sam to law enforcement near him in New Hampshire while investigators searched the gruesome scene where his children were murdered.

Discovery of the Bodies

Police said Kai and Ella were strangled to death in their family home, and their bodies were left for 'some time' before they were discovered, though the exact duration remains unclear. Dispatch logs revealed the moment police found the children's bodies, as an officer reported arriving to find no cars in the driveway and a 'rear door unsecured.'

The officer at the scene told dispatch that seconds after entering the home, he found evidence that a gruesome crime had been committed. "There's blood splatter," the officer said, according to police recordings posted by Broadcastify. As more units arrived at the home around 10pm that night, officers then found the bodies of Kai and Ella strangled to death.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

MacAusland is due to appear back in court in July and has been held without bail following her arrest. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many struggling to come to terms with the loss of two innocent children. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of such events on families and communities alike.

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