Mom accused of killing kids enters insanity plea

Attorney says Dayton woman ‘has history of mental health issues.’

Claudena Helton, who police say killed two of her children and asked a third to help her drag the bodies outside, has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Dayton police said Helton, 30, admitted to shooting 8-year-old daughter Khmorra and 6-yearold son Kaiden in their heads — and asking her third child to help drag their bodies outside. She was indicted on six counts of aggravated murder. No trial date is set.

In court documents, Dayton policewrote that Helton said she shot themto “save themfromthe evils of the world.”

In a notice to the court of the insanity plea obtained by this news organization, Helton’s attorney, Anthony VanNoy wrote that his client “does not understand what she is being chargedwith or what acts constitute the crime.” “Defendant has a history ofmental health issues and does not understand the consequences of her actions.”

VanNoy asked Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Dennis Langer to allow a psychological evaluation of Helton. Langer granted the sanity evaluation, according to court documents.

Helton— whowas naked and in what neighbors said was trancelike state when police arrived just after 10 a.m. May 18 — was interviewed not long after police said passers-bywere performing life-savingmeasures on the children outside the home at 3821 Lori Sue Ave.

A complaint and affiffidavit said Helton asked her oldest child, an 11-year-old, to assist her in removing the children fromthe home. The girl was taken fromthe home and interviewed. Montgomery County Children Services said it had an open case regarding Helton but declined to provide more details.

Dayton police Chief Richard Biehl has said he suspected mental health issues were possible because of Helton’s actions.