MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA — A North Dakota community is struggling to comprehend an extraordinarily serious family tragedy after a 22-year-old mother was accused of killing two of her young children and critically injuring a third inside their Mandan home.

Kailey Erhart was arrested on August 6, 2026, and now faces multiple felony charges, including two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, along with aggravated assault, terrorizing with a dangerous weapon and domestic violence allegations, according to jail records and court information reported by multiple news organizations.

Two children — a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old — later died after suffering severe injuries. A third child, approximately 1 year old, survived and underwent surgery. Authorities have not publicly provided detailed information about the surviving child’s current medical condition.

But investigators say what allegedly happened immediately before officers entered the home makes the case even more disturbing.

A Warning Captured on a Phone

According to an arrest affidavit cited by PEOPLE and other outlets, Erhart allegedly confronted the children’s father before the tragedy unfolded.

Investigators say a video recovered from his phone showed Erhart holding one of the children while armed with a handgun. She allegedly pointed the weapon toward the father and told him:

“Say goodbye to your kids.”

The father reportedly managed to take the firearm away from her after a struggle. Authorities allege Erhart later chased both him and the children’s grandmother from the house while carrying a knife.

What happened after they were outside is now at the center of the criminal investigation.

When Mandan police officers responded to the residence, they allegedly encountered Erhart covered in blood and holding a kitchen knife to her own throat, according to the affidavit as reported by PEOPLE. Officers were eventually able to take her into custody.

Inside the home, officers discovered the three children suffering from devastating neck injuries.

Emergency crews rushed to help them, but two could not be saved. The surviving child required surgery.

Police Chief Calls Incident “Extreme, Tragic and Heartbreaking”

Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler publicly acknowledged the emotional impact of the scene not only on the children’s family but also on the officers and first responders who entered the home.

He described the incident as “extreme, tragic and heartbreaking” for the children, their relatives, the community and those who responded.

Ziegler also said the scene was something no one should ever have to witness and praised officers for their response under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

The Mandan Police Department is the local law-enforcement agency handling the case. Its official website identifies Ziegler as the department’s police chief.

$3 Million Cash Bond

At Erhart’s initial court appearance, District Judge Marina Spahr reportedly set bond at $3 million cash, citing the extreme nature of the alleged violence and potential danger to victims, children and the community.

The court also issued no-contact restrictions preventing Erhart from contacting surviving victims or family members.

As of the latest reports, Erhart has not entered a plea. Her preliminary hearing and arraignment are scheduled for October 6, 2026.

Because the criminal proceedings are still at an early stage, the allegations contained in police affidavits have not yet been tested at trial.

Questions About What Happened Before the Tragedy

The affidavit, as reported by news outlets, also references earlier concerns involving Erhart’s mental health and alleged previous threats involving herself and the children. Reports state that she had previously received mental-health treatment and medication.

Those details are likely to receive further scrutiny as the criminal case develops. However, authorities have not announced a definitive motive, and the existence of mental-health treatment by itself does not establish why an alleged crime occurred.

That distinction is important as investigators, prosecutors and eventually the courts work to determine exactly what happened.

For now, at the center of the case are three very young children.

Two lives ended before they had barely begun.

A third survived and now faces a difficult road ahead.

And a family and community are left confronting a question that no court filing can easily answer: How could an ordinary day inside a family home end in such devastating loss?

The legal process surrounding Kailey Erhart is only beginning. What comes next may provide more answers about the events leading up to August 6 — but nothing that emerges in court can undo what happened to the children at the heart of this case.

Sources: Mandan Police Department; PEOPLE; court and arrest-affidavit information reported by local and national news organizations.