An Illinois woman was charged with attempted murder after she allegedly poisoned her children with drug-laced apple juice, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Krystle El Khatib, 29, of Schiller Park, crushed up benzodiazepine pills, an anti-anxiety drug, and placed the powder into juice which she then forced her 9-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter to drink, authorities said.
Police said El Khatib then tried to kill herself by taking the drug in addition to Norco, a painkiller, the Tribune reported.
The children were diagnosed with poisoning at a local hospital but were said to have recovered and are in their father's custody.
Prosecutors alleged Thursday that El Khatib was angry with the children's father for not wanting to spend time with her and not being home with the children. She reportedly sent a text to the father a few days before that read, "At least if I go to hell, I've already been there. The kids go to heaven. Peace from all."
A judge, citing the age of the children and the nature of the allegations, set her bail at $1.5 million.
Contacted by a Tribune reporter, a woman who identified herself as El Khatib's estranged mother broke down in tears when she was told the news.
"Are the kids OK?" she asked. "Dear God. Dear God."
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