SOUTH JORDAN — Criminal charges were filed Friday against a South Jordan woman accused of trying to kill her 3-month-old daughter and herself in a move she said was prompted by the presidential election.
Madeline Christensen, 31, also known as Madeline Lyal Wright, is charged in 3rd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and attempted aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony.
On Nov. 11, police responded to call of a psychiatric problem at a residence. Officers arrived to find Christensen was bleeding from self-inflicted cuts to her throat and stab marks on her stomach, had drank Drano and had filled a bathtub with water and put a toaster in it, according to charging documents, all in an apparent attempt to take her own life as well as her young daughter’s.
Christensen’s husband also had a deep cut on his hand from trying to take the knife away from his wife.
When police asked Christensen what happened, she replied, “Um I just felt like the future for my daughter and I could end up being awful,” the charges state. “I wanted to save me and my daughter.”
After being treated at a local hospital and then taken into custody, Christensen additionally told detectives that “ever since the election, she believed the outcome was her fault and she believed her family would be tortured and killed unless she was perfect,” according to the charges. “(She) stated her head was telling her, ‘You have to do this. It’s now or never.'”
Christensen also told police “she was diagnosed with a mental health disorder” and “has had manic episodes in the past.”
Prosecutors noted that “if the child’s father had not intervened, the situation would have had a different outcome.”
“This is a nuanced case that will likely evolve as it goes through the criminal justice process to address the challenges the defendant is facing. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please seek out help before you hurt yourself or someone you love,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Friday.
The baby girl was not seriously injured.
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