Hearing set to review psychiatric hospitalization of mom who drove 3 kids into ocean

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A hearing is set for Monday for a South Carolina mother who drove her three children into the ocean off Daytona Beach.

Ebony Wilkerson, 33, has been in a state psychiatric hospital after a judge ruled last year that she was incompetent to stand trial and could be a threat to herself or others.

Her attorney, James Purdy, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://tinyurl.com/ovetjdf) that Wilkerson should be released, saying he does not think she fits the qualification for continued mental health in-house treatment.

The three children involved in the incident are in state custody.

A judge previously ruled Wilkerson was not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of child abuse, and prosecutors dropped attempted murder charges.

___

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