The Brandi Worley case involves an Indiana mother who fatally stabbed her two young children, seven-year-old Tyler and three-year-old Charlee, in the early morning of November 17, 2016, only hours after her husband filed for divorce. She pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and was sentenced in March 2018 to 120 years in prison.
What Happened on November 17, 2016
Around 4:30 a.m., inside the family home on South Madison Street in Darlington, Indiana, Brandi Worley used a Ka-Bar-style combat knife to stab both children in the neck while they were in Charlee’s bedroom. Her husband, Jason Worley, was asleep in the basement. The children were found on the bedroom floor, partially covered with blankets, and autopsies confirmed stab wounds to the neck as the cause of death for each.1Journal and Courier. Cause of Death Unclear in Darlington Homicides
After killing Tyler and Charlee, Worley stabbed herself in the neck. She later told officers, “I just wanted to die with them.”1Journal and Courier. Cause of Death Unclear in Darlington Homicides Police arrived at about 4:35 a.m. and recovered the knife near the children’s bodies.
The 911 Call
Worley called 911 herself. “I just stabbed myself and I killed my two children,” she told the dispatcher, describing “blood everywhere” and saying she was “tired from Benadryl cough medicine.”2Journal and Courier. 911 Call: Double Murder, There’s Blood Everywhere Asked what had caused her to do it, she answered, “My husband wanted a divorce and wanted to take my kids. And I don’t want him to have my kids.”3CBS News. Mom Who Killed Kids Hours After Husband Filed for Divorce Is Sentenced to 120 Years
When Jason came up from the basement, Brandi told him, according to a probable cause affidavit, “Now you can’t take the kids from me.”4WRTV. Court Docs: Mom Killed Her 2 Young Children So That Husband Couldn’t Have Custody in Divorce
Why She Did It
Jason Worley had filed for divorce hours before the killings. Brandi Worley told police her reason for stabbing Tyler and Charlee was that she did not want him to have custody of them. “I did not want him taking them, so I stabbed them,” she said, and repeated to officers, “I did not want him to take my kids. I just wanted to die with them.”4WRTV. Court Docs: Mom Killed Her 2 Young Children So That Husband Couldn’t Have Custody in Divorce No other motive was put forward by prosecutors or the defense.
Guilty Plea and 120-Year Sentence
Worley was charged in Montgomery County with two counts of murder. She initially pleaded not guilty, then changed her plea in January 2018 and admitted to both counts. Montgomery County Prosecutor Joe Buser handled the case for the state.5Journal Review. Judge Sentences Worley in the Stabbing Deaths of Her Two Young Children
At sentencing on March 19, 2018, in Montgomery Circuit Court, the judge imposed 65 years for one count and 55 years for the other, for a total of 120 years, with credit for 476 days already served.6Fox 59. Indiana Mother Sentenced to 120 Years for Fatally Stabbing Her Children Worley made no statement in court. Her defense attorney told the judge there was “no explanation for what she did.”3CBS News. Mom Who Killed Kids Hours After Husband Filed for Divorce Is Sentenced to 120 Years
Jason Worley’s Response
Jason Worley spoke publicly around the time of sentencing. He said his ex-wife “appeared to be just as unremorseful as she did in the 911 call,” describing her as speaking “in a very matter of fact manner” about the crime, which he called “heart wrenching to hear.”6Fox 59. Indiana Mother Sentenced to 120 Years for Fatally Stabbing Her Children He added, “All I want and have ever wanted was to have her out of sight and mind so that I may move forward from this horror.”