Police: Cheverly mother placed bags over slain toddlers’ heads to suffocate them

Two toddlers found dead Sunday had bags placed over their heads to suffocate them, police said on Monday as they announced that the children’s 24-year-old mother had given a detailed confession in the case.

Sonya Spoon, of Cheverly, was arrested Sunday and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of her 1-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. The children, Ayden Spoon and Kayla Thompson, were taken to Children’s Hospital early Sunday after a relative found them unconscious in the home. They were pronounced dead within hours.

In a press conference Monday, Prince George’s County police officials said detectives were probing Ms. Spoon’s background as they tried to determine the motive in the killings. Maj. Cesar Pacheco said officials are looking into recent custody disputes over the children, who have different fathers, and they are aware of a psychological evaluation recently conducted on Ms. Spoon.

Maryland court records show that Ms. Spoon was engaged in a custody battle involving one of the children. In November, court records show she had Ayden’s name legally changed.

Maj. Pacheco said police were called to the Cheverly home around 2:15 a.m. Sunday after Ms. Spoon sought out another relative who was in the home at the time and the relative found the children. Ms. Spoon was taken into custody at the home after police found discovered signs of foul play.

Ms. Spoon is currently being held without bond.