Smothering was cause of death for 2 children allegedly killed by mother, investigator says
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JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson City woman accused of killing her two children in October appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Jessica Chandler, who was 28 at the time of the alleged killings, is charged with two counts of first degree murder. The incident took place on Oct. 29 at a home on Omaha Drive, just off King Springs Road east of Mountain View Elementary School. 

Investigators previously said poison was suspected in the deaths of Chandler’s 1-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, whose father discovered them unresponsive when he arrived at her home that day.

During Tuesday’s hearing, investigators testified to the court that official autopsies had listed the causes of death for the two children as asphyxiation by smothering.

The court found that there was probable cause for Chandler’s case to be bound over to a grand jury, and she’s currently being held without bond. Chandler’s defense on Tuesday requested that a bond be set. The state then asked, if a bond was placed, for a $1 million bond due to risks that include Chandler’s mental state.

Judge Jonathan Minga agreed to set a $2 million bond with GPS monitoring restrictions.

Chandler will appear in criminal court next on March 31 at 9 a.m. The Washington County Grand Jury’s next scheduled session is in early March.

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