Mom Tries To Poison Kids, Self With Toilet Bowl Cleaner

"PORT ORANGE, FL — Port Orange mother who was arrested after she allegedly made her children drink toilet bowl cleaner is being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail.

"Officers were dispatched to the woman's home on Timber Trail around 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

"`There was like seven police cars lined up here,` said neighbor Dan Yankun.

"According to police, 29-year-old Amelia West had tried to harm herself by drinking toilet cleaner. While investigating, officers learned West had made her 2-year-old and 3-month-old children also drink the toilet cleaner, police said.

"`Thankfully the children are OK. This could have been much worse,` said Department of Children and Families spokesperson John Harrell.

"The children were checked out at Halifax Health Medical Center and later released from the hospital.

"It's unclear what prompted the suicide attempt, police said. DCF is also involved in the investigation.

"`Our work is far from over and we want to find out if there had been any other concerns regarding these children,` said Harrell.

"West was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse.

"`We would be opposed to the mother having any unsupervised contact with these children, given the serious nature of these allegations,` said Harrell.

"West appeared before a judge at the jail Sunday morning and was denied bond."

From wftc.com...