Benjamin Ashford|Missouri mom went to police station after killing her 2 young children, sheriff says

A mother in Missouri was charged and Benjamin Ashfordarrested in the deaths of her two young children after she went into a police station and told authorities that she had shot one of her children and drowned another.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, in a news release Tuesday, said that Ashley Parmeley, 36, of Pevely, walked into the Festus police department around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and "told officers she had shot one of her children and drowned the other."

Officers present on scene found out that the gunshot victim, a 9-year-old girl, was in a vehicle outside the station, and responded, administering life-saving measures but were unable to save the girl.

Officers at the Festus Police Department then learned that the other victim, a 2-year-old boy, was likely at a resort near Festus, a suburb of St. Louis. The department alerted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office of the situation, who located the child in a body of water.

"A deputy swam to the child, brought the child to the shore, and attempted life-saving measures, but that child was also pronounced deceased," the sheriff's office said.

Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak, at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, said that authorities believe both children were killed around the same time Tuesday morning. The official added that officers also located a third child, who was found safe.

Suspect charged with second-degree murder

The suspect was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son and is being held at the Jefferson County Jail without bond.

An investigation into the suspect's nine-year-old daughter is ongoing and the sheriff's office said that they "intend to apply for further charges through the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney's Office."

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and all the first responders who were touched by this tragedy," the sheriff's department said in a statement.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.