Two children found dead in Jefferson County, mother arrested

Both children were younger than 10 years old. One was found shot to death in the mother’s car, which was parked outside the Festus police station around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The child was shot elsewhere, police said.

The second child was found dead south of Festus; he had apparently drowned.

The deaths are being treated as murder.

According to police, the mother parked on the police station premises on Tuesday and turned herself in before police even knew about the deaths.

Her clothes were wet and she suspected it had happened at a resort, Marshak said. Police went to the closest resort she could think of, Timber Creek in De Soto. Officers rushed to get there and found the second dead child.

Until shortly before 2 p.m., a silver Mazda with Missouri license plates was still parked at the crime scene, with privacy curtains all around it. Investigators searched the car and one pulled out a bloody beach towel.

During the press conference, Marshak said police were searching for a third child, but within minutes police confirmed that the child had been found safe and sound.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

Post-Dispatch writer Kim Bell contributed to this report.