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Boy, 6, Fighting For Life After Mother's Attempted Drowning

MCCANDLESS (KDKA) - A McCandless mother is claiming voices told her to try and drown two of her children.

The children, ages 3 and 6, were taken to UPMC Passavant Hospital after being found unresponsive in their McCandless home Tuesday morning.

Luke Schlemmer, 3, died at the hospital, while his older brother, Daniel, was brought to Children's Hospital, where he continues to fight for his life.

KDKA's Brenda Waters Reports:

Laurel Schlemmer, 40, told police the series of events in disturbing detail.

It happened around 9 a.m. Tuesday at the family's home on Saratoga Drive.

Schlemmer told police she put her 7-year-old son on the bus before returning to the home. Then, she filled the bathtub with water and told her other two sons to get in.

According to the criminal complaint, Schlemmer was fully clothed when she got in the tub with her sons.

She said "crazy voices" told her to push the boys under the water. At one point, she reportedly sat on top of them.

Once the boys were unresponsive, Schlemmer told police she pulled them out of the tub before changing into dry clothes and calling 911.

Schlemmer told police she thought she could be a better mother to her 7-year-old son if the other two weren't around.

The children's father was at work at the time.

KDKA's Trina Orlando Reports:

Laurel Schlemmer is in jail without bond. Family members declined to comment on this tragedy.

She is facing a list of charges including, aggravated assault, attempted homicide, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with evidence, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

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