Olympia woman suspected of trying to kill her children

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thirty-two-year old Thomas Booth left his Olympia house on 10th Court SE, his head down, a few belongings in his hands.   Olympia police say it was there his wife turned a knife on their 2-year-old toddler and 6-month-old twins, three girls.

"I can't imagine having three (children) under 2," said neighbor Tiffany Felch. "I'm sure she was going through a lot."

Neighbors watched in horror as detectives spent much of the day removing evidence.  They say 28-year-old Christina Booth called 911 at about 1:18 Sunday morning.

"The information that came into the call receiver was that it was three children that wouldn't stop crying and had some injuries to their neck," said Olympia Police Lt. Jim Costa.

When medics arrived, they found the mother upstairs with the children who had life-threatening neck injuries. They were rushed to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital where they went into surgery.

Police interviewed the parents and arrested Christina Booth on three counts of attempted murder.

Lt. Costa was asked if investigators believe she was trying to kill her children.

"To do that kind of damage or injury to three helpless human beings," he said. "I don't know that you can explain it."

Thomas Booth, an active duty JBLM soldier, is not implicated.

Neighbors said Christina Booth was an outgoing, attentive mother until her husband returned from a second deployment to Afghanistan. It was about the time the twins were born. Then she became a bit of a recluse.

Still they never imagined what police say happened overnight.

"I have to assume that she felt trapped in some way in her situation," said Eric Felch.  "Whether psychological or relational or whatever."

Olympia police said they recovered the knife.

A family friend who brought the father home said the children are slowly improving in the hospital.

They are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Christina Booth may make a court appearance Monday.

KIRO