Woman Poisoned Her 2 Kids with Laced Apple Juice

ghostxtiger · #1 ● 01-16-2015, 06:06 PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...115-story.html

A Schiller Park woman faces attempted murder charges for allegedly poisoning her children with drug-laced apple juice, Cook County authorities said.

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Krystle El Khatib, 29, crushed up benzodiazepine pills, an anti-anxiety drug, placed the powder into the juice and forced her 9-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter to drink two glasses each, authorities allege. When her son said no, she allegedly threatened to hit him.

El Khatib then attempted to take her own life by ingesting benzodiazepine and the painkiller Norco, officials said.

Prosecutors in court Thursday described El Khatib as being angry at the children's father for not wanting to spend time with her and not being home with the children. Authorities said she sent a text to the father Saturday that read: "At least if I go to hell, I've already been there. The kids go to heaven. Peace from all."

A judge set her bond at $1.5 million, citing the age of the children and the nature of the allegations.

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buddyB If the mother was going to take her own life, how would the death penalty have discouraged her actions?
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The alleged poisoning occurred Sunday. The next morning, authorities said, El Khatib's son woke up, vomited several times and, after being unable to rouse his mother, texted his father.

The father took the children to a hospital, police said. Hospital officials requested that law enforcement check on El Khatib, who was found at her home in need of medical attention.

She allegedly told authorities that she gave the children the drugs because she "wanted all three of them to go to sleep and not wake up."

The state Department of Children and Family Services is investigating allegations of neglect and abuse, according to an agency spokesman. The department has not had prior contact with the family.

The children were diagnosed with poisoning at the hospital but have recovered and are in their father's custody, officials said. He declined comment after Thursday's hearing.

A woman who identified herself as El Khatib's estranged mother broke down in tears when contacted by a reporter.

"Are the kids OK?" she asked. "Dear God. Dear God."

El Khatib was married for a short time to Bill Intzekiotis, records show. She was 17 at the time of their marriage, Intzekiotis said, and they divorced after less than a year.

"At that time, she liked to ride motorcycles, and she was into cars," Intzekiotis said, "She was smart. She was a good person at heart, but she didn't have a good life. I think she tried too hard to fit in."

Records show El Khatib filed for bankruptcy In 2007. At that time, she listed Comcast Cable as her employer but, more recently, she described herself in online profiles as an actress and model. On what appears to be El Khatib's Instagram account, she liked this quote from a Robin Williams' movie: "I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone."