Florida woman charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder

The Florida woman who was accused of driving her vehicle into the Atlantic Ocean last week with her three children has been arrested on three counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson.

Authorities believe that Ebony Wilkerson was attempting to kill her children – ages are 3, 9 and 10 – when she drove into Daytona Beach on Tuesday.

“She actually told them to close their eyes and go to sleep, she was taking them to a better place,” Johnson noted.

Upon witnessing the alarming incident, bystanders and Daytona beach rangers swam out into the water to rescue the children. According to witnesses, Wilkerson tried to refrain the rescuers from pulling the children out of the vehicle and even began fighting her son for control of the steering wheel.

Denying accusations of trying to harm her children, Wilkerson told investigators that she was only trying to drive out of the surf and not into it.

Though no evidence of alcohol or drugs have has been found, Johnson said he plans to make sure Wilkerson receives help for any possible mental issues she may have.

In addition to the counts of attempted first-degree murder, Wilkerson is also being charged with three counts of aggravated child abuse.

– Antionette Latrese (@_ALatrese)