Mom Allegedly Poisons Kids With Pesticide, Kills Self After Fight With Alcoholic Husband

A 33-year-old woman from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu allegedly killed her two children with pesticide-laced food earlier this week before taking her own life by eating the same poisoned meal, police said Tuesday.

The woman was identified as P Sasikala, of Veerappan Goundan Kattur in Erode district, The Times of India first reported. Her 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter were identified as P Nithin Shankar and P Sudharshana, respectively.

The apparent murder-suicide came after an alleged argument between Sasikala and her 40-year-old husband, K Prabhu, police said.

According to authorities, Prabhu, a laborer, approached his wife Monday and asked for money to buy liquor.

"Sasikala requested him not to drink alcohol," an unnamed police officer was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Prabhu allegedly ignored his wife's request and went out to consume liquor, according to the report. He allegedly later had a quarrel with Sasikala at night for refusing to give him money for alcohol.

"Upset over this, Sasikala decided to end her and her children's lives," the police officer said.

Sasikala allegedly laced their food with pesticide, which she consumed and also fed to her children, the report said. The effects of the pesticide had become apparent around midnight, and the family's neighbors rushed the three to a private hospital in Erode.

According to the police officer, the three died on Tuesday morning.

Following their deaths, the Malayampalayam police registered a case, and an inquiry into the incident had been initiated.

A similar incident happened over a week ago in Erie County, Pennsylvania, when a 48-year-old father and his two biological children were found dead at the scene of a house fire in what appeared to have been a murder-suicide-arson.

The bodies of Richard Zimmer, his 10-year-old son Zachary and his 13-year-old daughter Madison were found inside a residence in Greene Township on June 29.

According to police, Zimmer had killed his two children with a shotgun that he owned before he started multiple fires within the residence and fatally shot himself.

Zimmer, who was in the middle of a divorce with his wife of 10 years, was scheduled to appear at a contempt hearing at the Erie County Courthouse on the day his body was discovered.