Mom sought in stabbing made kids drink bleach, sheriff says
A woman who was found unconscious with her two children on Mother’s Day in Osceola County made them drink bleach in an attempt to kill them and herself, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.
Just after midnight, deputies were on the lookout for Joanne Zephir, 36, who was the suspect in a stabbing in Orange County, OCSO said. The agency said they found her on Old Pleasant Hill Road near Poinciana Pentecostal Church.
She was unconscious in the driver’s seat of her car with her 3-year-old daughter, who was also unconscious, in the back seat, Sheriff Marcos López said at a press conference Tuesday. He said her 8-year-old was found in the roadway by the entrance of the church.
The youngest was pronounced dead at the hospital and the 8-yearold was treated and later released to a family member.
Zephir is facing attempted murder and aggravated battery charges in Orange County.
López said she cooperated with investigators and told them about the incident with the Orange County victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous. Hours after the assault, Zephir called a family member to say she had killed her children and was going to kill herself, López said.
“She made both children drink bleach from makeshift drinking glass,” López said, adding Zephir believes the victim in Orange County put a voodoo spell on her, making her harm her children. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to prevent the death of a 3-year-old.”
Zephir is facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated child abuse in Osceola County. OCSO is waiting for findings from the Medical Examiners’ Office before filing murder charges for the child’s killing.