North Dakota mother charged after stabbing two children to death
Police say 22-year-old Kailey Erhart attacked her 5-month-old and 3-year-old children with a knife, killing them and seriously wounding a 1-year-old sibling.
In Mandan, North Dakota, police allege that 22-year-old Kailey Erhart suffered a manic episode and stabbed her 5-month-old and 3-year-old children to death, while a 1-year-old child survived after undergoing surgery for serious injuries. The incident unfolded after Erhart threatened her estranged husband with a gun; he wrestled the weapon away, sustaining bites and scratches during the altercation. The children’s grandmother testified that Erhart chased the adults from the home before the attack.
Erhart has been charged with nine counts, including two Class AA felony murder charges, attempted murder, aggravated assault and terrorizing. At her initial court appearance, District Judge Marina Spahr set a $3 million cash bond and issued no-contact orders protecting the surviving child and family members. A preliminary hearing is slated for October 6, 2026, and Erhart has not yet entered a plea.
Why it matters
The case highlights extreme domestic violence and raises concerns about mental-health interventions and child safety.
In this story