A Tragic Loss in an Affluent Boston Suburb
In a heart-wrenching event 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 incident occurred on April 24, when Kai and Ella MacAusland, aged seven and six respectively, were found dead at their $1.5 million residence in Wellesley. According to police reports, the mother, Janette MacAusland, 49, strangled them before driving to her aunt’s home in Bennington, Vermont, where she was arrested and confessed to taking their lives.
Janette, who is an acupuncturist, reportedly told authorities, “I wanted the three of us to go to God together.” This chilling statement came after she had been in the middle of a bitter divorce with her husband, Sam MacAusland, 62. She has since pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and remains in custody at the Western Mass Regional Women’s Correctional Center in Massachusetts.
A Heartfelt Farewell
On Saturday afternoon, family and friends gathered at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Wellesley to pay their final respects to the beloved siblings. The service was attended by neighbors, family friends, and Sam, who stood in front of the small caskets sharing bittersweet memories of Ella and Kai. While speakers occasionally alluded to the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths, Janette was never mentioned during the ceremony.
Sam shared heartfelt stories about his children, highlighting the deep love he had for them. One close friend described the way he loved the children as “unbelievable.” During the service, Sam placed his hands in the shape of a heart, a gesture that Kai used to do, reminding everyone of the child’s innocence and joy.
He also spoke about their favorite activities, such as dancing, swimming, and drawing rainbows and hearts. Sam even shared a song written by his daughter, titled “Rainbow colors,” which he recited to the congregation:
“Rainbow shine down on my family. Rainbow shine down on my family... Rainbow colors shine down on my family.”
Community Grief and Memories
A neighbor who lived across the street from the MacAuslands shared how they had spent time with Ella and Kai just days before their deaths. She expressed the emptiness she felt now, saying, “Our street is too quiet now. Our lives feel duller. We miss you, and you will live on in our hearts.”
The hour-long service was followed by a private burial, as detailed in the obituary of Kai and Ella. Kai was in second grade, while Ella was in kindergarten at Schofield Elementary School. After her arrest, Janette was seen with a visible bloody neck injury in her mugshot, where she reportedly told an officer, “I strangled them and then I tried to kill myself.”
The Discovery of the Tragedy
Following her 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. He desperately called 911, with a dispatcher describing him as “uncontrollable” and needing to know what was happening.
The 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.” Upon entering the home, the officer found evidence of a gruesome crime, including blood splatter. More units arrived around 10pm that night, and officers confirmed the deaths of Kai and Ella, who had been strangled to death.
MacAusland is due to appear back in court in July and has been held without bail following her arrest. The tragedy has left a lasting impact on the community, with many still grappling with the loss of two innocent lives.
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